Council defers foreshore plan

Gosford Council has deferred making a decision on the Ettalong Beach Reserve Plan of Management and Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan to July 10, to allow further information to be provided to councillors.

Council officers had recommended that council incorporate changes recommended by the Department of Lands into the two reports, and that the revised plans be submitted back to the department for its review and adoption.

Council seemingly agreed with all changes except one, which would involve regular sand nourishment at Ettalong Beach.

Cr Terri Latella moved a motion that council employ a coastal engineer to consult on the environmental, social and scientific issues as addressed by the department in its letter to council.

The motion lapsed when the seconder withdrew his support of the motion.

Councillors were unsure whether a comment by the department about employing a coastal engineer was a recommendation or suggestion.

It was believed that if the comment was a recommendation, and council did nothing to alter its current stance, the department would not approve the plans.

The Department's report said it had reviewed both documents "bearing in mind the diverse pressures, public comment and ultimately the need to reach a suitable balance" and provided its recommendations and comments for council's consideration.

Council officers stated that the majority of changes were considered to be minor and were a result of changes that had occurred since the draft Plan of Management was prepared in 2003.

Minor changes involved a name change at the department, the completion of the Ettalong Beach Memorial Club and resort, the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, remediation works at Lance Webb reserve, approval of the fast ferry terminal and the completion of the dune management plan.

Officers stated that more significant changes related to the deletion of the long term plan "View to the Future", and the inclusion of the Picnic Parade toilet block, the Fast Ferry Precinct, rock revetment and sand nourishment.

Officers stated that their inclusion "would not change the intent of the document, rather provide clarification on specific issues".

The department asked council to commit to a regular program of sand nourishment of the beach to "maintain the protection zone for houses, public infrastructure and reserve amenity", where the plan currently proposed monitoring of the beach and nourishment "when required".

Council officers stated that the department's request would "commit council to significant cost on a regular basis".

They stated: "Concern is raised at this request as whilst council has care, control and management of the foreshore Reserve it is a Crown asset".

Officers recommended that current requirement to monitor and nourish when required be retained "but without any commitment to a regular program of sand nourishment of the beach".

Two master plans were prepared as part of the plan of management, the first of which was the long-term plan titled View to the Future.

The department stated that the document had a number of development proposals that were inconsistent with the second plan titled Short-Term Remediation and would require "extensive additional studies to be completed" before the View to the Future plan could be adopted.

Council officers stated that, to enable the plan to be finalised and adopted, it was necessary to focus on works within the Short -Term Remediation plan and update it to incorporate the dune management plan proposed works, the fast ferry car park upgrade and the Lance Webb emergency embankment remediation works.

The deparmtent stated that community concern was raised about the proposal to demolish the Picnic Parade toilet block without an immediate replacement.

The plan indicated that in the long term a new toilet facility was to be constructed along with a second toilet facility in the Town Beach facilities building opposite Beach St.

Council officers stated that the Short-Term Remediation plan would indicate the removal of the Picnic Parade toilet block and a replacement toilet facility incorporated in the Town Beach Facilities building opposite Beach St as a high priority.

The department said community concern was also raised with about the loss of parking near the beach area south of Beach St.

Council officers stated that consent conditions for the Fast Ferry development required the provision of 43 parking bays on the eastern side of The Esplanade, which although not approved provided additional parking spaces on the foreshore reserve.

Council officers have also agreed with a department recommendation to investigate the effectiveness and need to supplement rock revetment works between Ferry Rd and the Town Beach precinct.

Council agenda CIT.20, 3 Jul 2007