Pearl Beach lagoon plan open for comment

The first comprehensive management plan for Pearl Beach Lagoon was placed on public exhibition on Monday, September 9.

It will remain available for comment until Sunday, October 13.

The plan was prepared with support from the NSW Government's Estuary Management Program and aims to create water quality which supports ecological function, improve condition of fringing vegetation, including the Melaleuca wetland (listed as an Endangered Ecological Community) and fringing sedgelands, which provide habitat for local species, improve diversity and abundance of native wetland fauna (including waterbirds), protect and enhance aesthetic beauty and maintain an appropriate level of public access.

The process of reviewing the available information and consulting with interested stakeholders underpins this plan and assists in guiding the best use of the limited resources available.

The steps undertaken to prepare the management plan adopted a risk-based approach to the management of lagoon health.

They included the identification and discussion of the planning framework relevant to management of the estuary, prioritisation of management objectives based on a combination of issues that need attention and assessment and selection of potential management options to achieve the objectives.

It also encompassed detailing a schedule of activities for the implementation of the best management options, as well as indicating responsibilities and sources of funding for implementing the best options.

Council's senior environment planning officer Mr Tim Macdonald said the plan had been developed in partnership with the local community.

"The draft Pearl Beach Lagoon Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) was developed in response to community concerns regarding the overall health of the lagoon.

"Council has undertaken an assessment of the health of the lagoon and engaged the local community in contributing to the plan's development, while ensuring management options are based upon sound scientific research.

"The plan will provide direction and guidance on future actions which will help to achieve long term improvements in lagoon health," said Mr Macdonald.

Gosford Council Agenda SF.17, 20 Aug 2013

Media release, 2 Sep 2013

Tim Macdonald, Gosford Council