Banner removed after Chamber request

Gosford Council has removed its Ettalong Beach Foreshore Plan of Management banner from Ettalong beachfront, following a request by Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, according to its Mainstreet Coordinator Ms Debra Wales.

"There was no reason for the banner to be erected as there has been no damage to the trees recently planted by council," Ms Wales said.

"Council removed the banner after my contact with mayor Cr Jim Macfadyen.

Ms Wales said the mayor acted straight away and agreed it was "just not necessary to detract from the beauty of the foreshore with ugly banners unnecessarily".

Ms Wales said the council then placed the banner further along the beachfront towards Umina in front of residential homes.

"We already have council signs posted along the length of The Esplanade in Ettalong.

"It isn't necessary to blight the landscape with three metre long banners placed in front of homes.

"Particularly when the problem is with vagrants drinking everyday and all day in the scrub at Ettalong and lighting fires to keep warm."

Council erected a banner at Ettalong Beach foreshore in April, in a move to deter future vandalism following a fire in the area a month earlier.

The banner was displayed at the site for a period of 28 days as recommended by council.

Ms Wales said she questioned the need for council to erect the same banner more than five months after the fire at Ettalong Beach foreshore destroyed sand dune vegetation.

"Terrigal and Avoca beachfronts would not be treated as poorly as this," Ms Wales said.

Email, 13 Aug 2008 Clare Graham, 13 Aug 2008 Interviewee: Debra Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce