Dune bulldozing 'worse than burning'

The bulldozing of a burnt section of vegetation on the Ettalong dunes may have been more environmentally damaging than the burning of the vegetation itself, according to a local environment group.

The Central Coast branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation has called on Gosford Council to observe the requirements of the recently-approved Ettalong Beach Foreshore Plan of Management in its supervision of works on the beach.

Branch president Mr Mark Snell has called on the council to submit itself to the development application process, treating the new viewing platforms as community facilities, to enable environmental protection measures to be clearly defined.

Mr Snell said that bulldozing the dunes meant that regeneration of the vegetation from seed in the soil, or dropped from seed pods which release seed when burnt, was now unlikely to occur.

"The adoption of the plan of management should not be treated by Gosford Council and others as open slather to do whatever they like on the foreshore and dunes," said Mr Snell.

Mr Snell said that, when the Minister of Lands Mr Tony Kelly approved the foreshore plan, the Minister said that one of its aims was "better management of beach vegetation".

"This has not been demonstrated to date," said Mr Snell.

"All work on the foreshore should conform to the letter and spirit of the management plan.

"It should abide by the Lands Department guidelines.

"Vegetation should not be cleared for the viewing decks before the decks are ready to be installed.

"In any case, management of vegetation on the foreshore should follow ecological expertise and bushcare guidelines."

Mr Snell said the council had well-qualified bushcare officers on staff to provide this advice and had no excuse for not following best management practices for the beach vegetation while undertaking the foreshore works.

Press release, 9 Apr 2008 Mark Snell, ACF Central Coast