Dinner held for Patonga plan advice

The Patonga Beach Progress Association will hold a dinner on Saturday, November 16, at the Everglades Country Club to raise funds to pay for expert advice on the Patonga draft plan of management.

The draft plan, which was placed on public exhibition in March this year, covers Crown land in Patonga Caravan and Camping Area, Patonga Village and the Dark Corner Cottages.

It aims to balance environmental conservation with the tourism benefits the area creates.

Due to the number of submissions received on the proposed plan, Crown Lands established a working committee comprising two members of Gosford Council, two representatives from Crown Lands, two members of the Patonga Beach Progress Association and two community representatives.

Patonga Beach Progress Association secretary Ms Judy Singer said the working committee has so far held three meetings where the association had attempted to negotiate a better plan of management.

Ms Singer said the most recent meeting, held in October, saw discussion focus on the caravan park and tennis courts.

"We feel the proposal is causing our community to have to try and choose between competing problems," Ms Singer said.

"Some residents only have water access to their properties.

"They have parked on the foreshore reserve for the last 50 years.

"The proposal that Crown Lands has put to us will mean that they will no longer be able to park there.

"There is no legal right to park in this spot but that has been the accepted arrangement for many years.

"The alternative we have been given is that the tennis courts we have will be bulldozed and turned into a car park.

"The waste facilities from the caravan park will also be moved to the tennis courts.

"We see this as a divisive tactic.

"It all revolves around competing users for the caravan park.

"The plan of management when it was first published had a proposal to relocate the tennis court.

"This was not a financial promise.

"It was only words on paper.

"We are concerned we will lose the tennis courts."

Ms Singer said this would be devastating for the number of older community members who meet for a game of tennis once a week.

Under the arrangement with Crown Lands, the working committee will meet again in November, December and January before a decision is made.

Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein said he was looking forward to the result of these meetings.

"I welcome the further consultation on the plan given the large numbers of concerns I have received from the community," Mr Holstein said.

Lindsey Chu, 7 Nov 2013

Interviewee: Judy Singer

Interviewee: Chris Holstein