Patonga plan placed on exhibition

Gosford Council has placed the Draft Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management on public exhibition on Saturday, March 16.

The document will remain on public exhibition for 28 days and Council will accept submissions for 42 days from the date it was placed on exhibition.

Council will adopt the tabled documents should no submissions be received that a comprise significant objection to the Draft Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management.

Should significant objections be received, a further report will be prepared for the Council detailing submissions received.

Gosford Council's director city services Mr Stephen Glen said in his report to Council that Patonga Crown Reserves contained public lands that provided social, recreational, environmental and economic values that had the potential to provide a range of conservation and tourism based experiences.

"The draft Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management will facilitate how these goals can be achieved, whilst simultaneously aiming to protect the unique character of the coastal village."

Mr Glen's report stated that the core principles of the Plan of Management were to ensure that the essential character of the area was maintained and strengthened in a sustainable manner, and to improve the condition of, and community access to, public areas, particularly the foreshore.

They were also to address issues of public risk and safety, to manage heritage items, to manage increased demands on accommodation and commercial opportunities.

Other aims were to address the adequate provision of car parking, to promote the features of the area so that they may be fairly enjoyed by all members of the community and to prevent the degradation of Crown Land caused by inappropriate or over use.

In 2006, the Department of Lands provided funding for the preparation of a Plan of Management for Patonga Caravan and Camping Area which has been in progress since February 2007.

In December 2007, Council was approached by the then NSW Department of Lands requesting that the Draft Plan of Management for the Caravan and Camping Area be incorporated into a Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management.

Due to significant time constraints in the preparation of the overarching Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management, it was decided that the Draft Patonga Caravan and Camping Area Plan of Management be placed on public exhibition in June 2008 given its prominent foreshore location, crown land assessment, and popularity amongst both visitors and local residents.

In May 2009, after review of the submissions received and further advancement of the Patonga Crown Reserves and Dark Corner Cottages Crown Lands Plan of Management, it was decided that the amendments would need to go back out on public exhibition.

The outcomes of community consultation led to the development of management objectives which included the protection of the scenic value and ecologically sustainable limits of the Land, improvements to access and circulation, continuance and improvement of public and park amenities and recreational amenities, provision of security through improved vehicular access and increased security surveillance, promotion of the area as a family friendly caravan and camping area and recreational area and recognition of the significance and history of the land in any future management options.

Gosford Council Agenda CIT.8, 5 Mar 2013