Has Brisbane Water plan been 'disapproved'?

Peninsula News, March 6, included reports on the deteriorating health of Brisbane Water.

What is the status of the Brisbane Water Plan of Management?

The issue of jetski use has been referred to the NSW Premier and five NSW Government Ministers.

The Brisbane Water Estuary Management Plan Draft, April 2011 included Action C12, "Investigate options for either banning or further limiting the use of jet skis in Brisbane Water Estuary".

Reading between the lines, no action has been taken since 2011.

The sedimentation issue now requires serious investigation and research above and beyond Action R09: "Conduct ongoing monitoring (by survey) of key navigation channels including Ettalong, Paddy's, Lintern, Woy Woy, Wagstaffe, Cockle, Saratoga".

How serious are these issues for Central Coast Council?

There is no appointed officer to administer the Brisbane Water Plan of Management.

Increased funding of the plan will be necessary as the estuary and catchment are developed as reported in PN Feb 20, page 3: "Combined with the forecast growth projected for the Central Coast region, the problem will continue to escalate".

Has the Plan of Management been "disapproved"?

The estuary will suffer the same development fate as the catchment.

Appendix A of the draft plan contains 178 actions.

This number is reduced to 72 in Appendix B due to funding availability.

Development should have catchment fees imposed that will be directed to fund actions in the Brisbane Water Plan of Management.

Letter, 8 Mar 2017

Norm Harris, Umina