Chamber "ecstatic" at foreshore approval

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Mainstreet coordinator Ms Debra Wales has congratulated Gosford Council for adopting Ettalong Beach Foreshore Management Plan at last Tuesday night's council meeting.

"We are ecstatic that the Ettalong Beach Foreshore Management Plan has been adopted.

"Council should be congratulated for their decision," Ms Wales said.

"The plan is part of the town centre improvements under Gosford Council's Financial Strategy which commenced in 1998.

"Over the years the town beach has overgrown with weed invested scrub and has become unsafe and inaccessible to the public.

"Regrettably, as a result of poor maintenance over the years, the beach degradation has reached an unacceptable point with vegetation spreading unchecked almost to the high tide mark.

"This has resulted in the beach being inaccessible to the families and visitors to the area."

Ms Wales, who took credit for initiating the beach restoration project, said that the aim was to restore the beach to its heyday when families could "safely use the beachfront and enjoy the protected waters".

"It's been a long battle but we were determined to see our once beautiful beach restored so that everyone could enjoy the waterfront, the magnificent views and calm waters as we did years ago," Ms Wales said.

"Our committee did everything Gosford Council and the State Government required.

"We completed all possible environmental surveys, went through extensive community consultation and liaised with all the relevant government departments.

"Whilst we are glad that the plan has finally been adopted, it really has taken way too long and as a result we have lost many opportunities over the years."

Ms Wales said the plan would now go back to the Department of Lands for gazettal after which work can commence.

"Council will now formalize an application to the Federal Government's Regional Partnership for dollar-for-dollar funding and will be seeking the Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd's support," Ms Wales said.

"If successful this Federal funding will supplement the existing funds already available for the works associated with the town beach."

Press release, 15 Aug 2007 Debra Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce