Council plans to spend money on beach work

Central Coast Council is planning to spend money for work on Ocean and Umina Beaches in the next financial year.

Works included in the Coastal Zone Management Plan are expected to be included in the Council's operational plan for 2018-19 which is due to go on public exhibition shortly.

"We are about to release the operational plan for the year and I would hope a lot of Coastal Zone Management Plan projects are in that operational plan," said Cr Richard Mehrtens.

"There has been a great deal of consternation around the state of Ocean Beach and Ettalong where some of the serious foreshore issues are that we are facing," he said.

"I have asked questions about whether the works needed in those areas will be in the operational plan or itemised somewhere else.

"We are getting to the point of needing some very serious consideration about the future of our beaches because, as we deal with increasing storm events we cannot foresee, those beaches are getting eaten away and they should be taking pride of place in our region."

Cr Mehrtens said he understood that the Coastal Zone Management Plan that had been signed off by the NSW Government in 2017 had been based on a Coastal Zone Management Study and years of research.

"I think the problem is staff are still looking for more research and more plans at Ocean Beach and Umina Beach for specific works there.

"We are waiting on funding from the State Government to do those additional studies to deliver a mid-year report for councillors specifically for that erosion.

"I am not sure of whether or not approval has been given by the State for that funding but the situation was we had decided if we did not get the State Government funding Council would fund the work out of its own budget," Cr Mehrtens said.

He said he was unsure about reporting requirements relating to the Coastal Zone Management Plan but believed they were the responsibility of Council's director of assets, infrastructure and business, Mr Mike Dowling.

SOURCE:

Interview, 18 Apr 2018

Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson