New phase to oyster lease clean-up

Stage three of the clean-up and removal of debris from abandoned oyster leases in Hardy's Bay is expected to resume in October.

Hardy's Bay Residents Group publicity officer Mr Allan Wilson said the cleaning was expected to get underway in early October when more favourable weather and lower tides would be more conducive to the debris removal.

He said the project to restore and remove abandoned oyster leases along Hardy's Bay foreshore would not have been possible without the campaigning of local residents.

"The long history of the campaign stretches back to mid-2004 when its pioneers Hardy's Bay Residents Group members Kay and Terry Feltham pursued the early negotiations in obtaining official removal permits to dismantle the derelict leases which had been abandoned in earlier times by disenchanted oyster farmers," Mr Wilson said.

"This approach eventually paid off when the Department of Fisheries and Gosford Council agreed to give the project the green light."

Mr Wilson said the first stage of the project involved the removal of roofing tiles, rocks and concrete from the northern side of the extension wharf in Hardy's Bay Parade.

"At the front line of operations were Kay and Terry who directed the arduous assignment in conjunction with other volunteers," Mr Wilson said.

"Many tonnes of waste materials were removed throughout the activities by the willing workers, all of whom had the singular purpose in mind, namely, of helping to restore the bay and the foreshore to its old charms and justifying its claims as offering one of the most picturesque outlooks in the Brisbane Water network.

"Kay and Terry's initiative in originally launching the project was openly praised for a number of reasons, not the least being a desire of its negotiators to see the foreshore returned to its natural state and, in turn, to protect seagrass beds and provide habitat for small marine life.

"This groundwork was duly recognised by the authorities and became the forerunner to a decision by the State Government to provide a generous financial grant.

"This then enabled the Hardy's Bay Residents Group to plan and develop a more sophisticated system in transferring the left-over piles of roofing tiles, concrete slabs, rocks and other unsightly substances from bayside to shore where they were employed for council roadworks purposes."

According to Mr Wilson, stage three of the project is to be funded by the Federal Government's Caring for our Country Community Coastcare program with a grant of more than $13,000.

Following the completion of stage one and two of the project, Mr Wilson said there has been an overwhelming positive feedback from the community as it sees the foreshore area returning to its natural state.

Press release, 5 Aug 2009 Allan Wilson, Hardy's Bay Residents Group