Correa Bay goes back to committee

Gosford Council has asked its Coastal Planning (CLP) Committee to reconsider its recommendations on the Correa Bay Water Quality study.

Its grounds were "that there are important issues still to be resolved".

It is understood that this is the first time in the history of the committee that its recommendations on a major issue have not been accepted.

Council has asked the full membership of the committee to consult with the full membership of the community-based Correa Bay Water Quality Management Committee which submitted the report.

The study was referred to a sub-committee of the CLP committee for review in December.

The report back to the council last week (March 6) revealed recommendations of the Correa Bay committee arising from its study.

These included extensive dredging of Correa Bay, expected to cost at least $400,000, the rehabilitation of the Bull's Hill quarry and the prosecution of the parties who have not met "their obligations under the various environmental laws".

The CLP committee recommended against taking any legal action and endorsed the action proposed by the Department of Land and Water Conservation, which has accepted responsibility for on-going maintenance of the site.

It also opposed releasing the entire text of the report.

Cr Lynne Bockholt moved "that Council defer consideration of Item CL003 (the CLP Recommendation) on the grounds that there are important issues still to be resolved and that the matter be referred back to the CLP for consultation between a full and special meeting of the CLP and the full Correa Bay Committee and its advisors at a mutually agreed time and date within three weeks of today".

The motion was passed unanimously.

See further reports inside this issue.

Council meeting, March 7