Ettalong foreshore inspected

Gosford Council will hold an onsite inspection of Ettalong Beach foreshore to consider the implementation of the Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan.

According to a council report, the onsite inspection will involve Cr Terri Latella, interested councillors and the director of city services Mr Stephen Glen.

The onsite inspection follows Cr Latella's request for a report on "why the burnt vegetation and surrounding vegetation at the affected area was removed and why that decision was made and what environmental bush care methods were used".

Cr Latella's request for a report was made at a council meeting on July 22, during "questions without notice".

The report on the "burnt vegetation" at Ettalong Beach foreshore was presented to council at a meeting on August 5.

According to the report, the fire at Ettalong Beach foreshore occurred during March this year and burnt out the dune vegetation from the toilet block at the end of Picnic Parade for 30 metres to the west.

The report stated: "The vegetation in question was to be removed to allow reshaping of the dune between the toilet block and northern most beach access.

"Replanting of advanced tertiary species is proposed to provide immediate tall vegetation at the rear of the dune.

"Inspection of the site revealed that a large section of the vegetation identified for removal under

Section 6.7 (of the Dune Management Plan) had been destroyed leaving a potentially dangerous site with a large number of broken bottles and used syringes littered throughout the exposed dune area.

"The fire significantly impacted on the visual amenity of the Ettalong Beach foreshore and it was considered that urgent work was required to clean up and stabilise the site.

"The contractor undertaking the demolition of the toilet block offered the use of the on-site excavator to assist in making the site safe for the public at no cost to council.

"Assistance was also offered with picking up bottles and syringes prior to the excavator commencing work.

"It was decided to accept the offer of assistance and use the excavator available on site to remove the remaining vegetation and undertake the dune reshaping works as identified in Section 6.7.

"The excavator was considered appropriate earth-moving equipment for the task at hand as it was able to remove the burnt shrubs, fill the hollow and reshape the sand dune."

In response to Cr Latella's question on what environmental bush care methods were used in the removal of vegetation at Ettalong Beach foreshore, the report stated: "As the vegetation had been identified for removal under Section 6.7 and new vegetation was to be re-established it was not necessary to implement bush care methods for the removal of the vegetation.

"Following the reshaping of the dune, the site was mulched as soon as possible to provide temporary stabilisation of the sand dune until vegetation could be re-established.

"A local bush care contractor, Warrigal Green Pty Ltd, was engaged to plant out the site and to instruct students from the Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus in dune care methods while they assisted in planting species listed in the plan.

"A number of advanced Banksia trees have been planted at the rear of the dune to provide immediate tall vegetation to the site."

The information contained in the report on works undertaken on Ettalong Beach foreshore, following the vandalism by fire, was noted by council.

Council agenda, CIT.23, 12 Aug 2008