Council 'reneges' on dune agreement

Gosford Council has reneged on an agreement not to level the dune at the northern end of Town Beach, according to Peninsula Dunecare convenor Mr Michael Gillian.

He said that Council's director of works Mr Stephen Glen had given the undertaking at a meeting on October 31 last year.

Mr Gillian said that removal of dune vegetation and dune reshaping at the northern end of the beach had been in contention, and the meeting with Mr Glen was held to clarify the council's plans with the dunecare group.

Mr Glen had undertaken not to remove vegetation from the northern end of the dune and that the dune would not be reshaped or "levelled", Mr Gillian said.

"Council's recent actions in bulldozing and levelling the northern dune area has basically destroyed the integrity of the dune system," Mr Gillian said.

"Gosford Council is the appointed trustee of the reserve and it has failed to undertake its responsibilities in this respect.

"It is not acceptable to inform the community there would be no dune levelling and extensive removal of vegetation in the northern dune area and then proceed to ignore this commitment."

Mr Gillian said the destruction of the dune area needed to be investigated to determine "why council had contravened the Plan of Management".

Media release, 24 Apr 2008 Michael Gillian, Peninsula Dunecare