Latella says foreshore plans are outdated

Gosford's Cr Terri Latella has called on council to "take responsibility of the proper management" of the Ettalong Beach foreshore.

Cr Latella has also stated that management plans for the area are "outdated".

She said council was responsible for beach management at Ettalong and Umina.

"The foreshore area, beach and community infrastructure must be protected from coastal erosion," Cr Latella said.

"This can only take place with appropriate planning procedures as a direct response to the threats of coastal erosion.

"The devastation that intense weather conditions can cause for coastal communities has highlighted challenges in the planning and management for beach communities."

Cr Latella said the only way to cope with the challenges was for local and state governments to be "committed to sound planning and shoreline management to ensure infrastructure, natural systems and local amenity are protected from the impacts of coastal erosion and storm events".

"The Queensland EPA have placed coastal protection at their forefront in planning due to the high level of development and community infrastructure," Cr Latella said.

"The understanding of the vulnerability of coastal communities is well understood and accepted.

"Management plans must reflect current and ongoing ways in which to reduce coastal beach erosion.

"Minimising development along these areas and using sand dune vegetation as a basis for stabilising and providing erosion control is a major factor in saving our beaches.

"In Ettalong, the current dune vegetation system is acting as a natural stabiliser and no development on the coastal foreshore area of the beach has reduced further erosion and impacts to community infrastructure.

"However, here comes the warning, the current plans that council is considering in relation to the plans of management are outdated and interest-based, the interest being tourism and business."

"Both these industries will face severe challenges if they do not heed the warnings of coastal erosion.

"I am calling on Gosford councillors to take responsibility for the proper management of this area and realise that its management plans are outdated.

"A letter responding to council's plans from the Department of Lands clearly demonstrates the necessity for proper control mechanisms and ongoing management.

"The Department have recommended council to undertake or implement 'additional environmental, social and scientific studies' before proceeding to support the plans of management."

Cr Latella said she was "extremely worried" that the studies would not occur and that the current outdated plans would be supported due to the "interests of others being placed higher on the agenda than those of community good and beach protection".

"The beach and community must be protected from the forces that are not just scientifically accepted but are being experienced around us," Cr Latella said.

Press release, 16 Jul 2007 Cr Terri Latella, Gosford Council