Chamber calls for urgent beach repair

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called on Central Coast Council to urgently allocate funds to maintain and repair beachfront accesses including the disability access well ahead on the next surf season.

"It is extremely disappointing that the Peninsula's premier beach attraction has been left in such a sad state of repair with no significant restoration works undertaken by Council at all this summer.

"The Council seems to be able to find millions to upgrade the Avoca Beach foreshore and build boardwalks at Terrigal Haven but has nothing in the pipeline for Ocean Beach," said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"It's an embarrassment and needs to be rectified."

He was speaking after recent big swells have continued to erode the beachfront and prevent access to the public.

"Once again we are seeing huge shifts in sand and significant erosion to the point where accessing the beach at Ocean Beach Surf Club is now dangerous", he said.

"The disability access near the lifeguard tower has not been usable for over 12 months with a thee metre drop off visible at the dune front," he added.

"How can beach goers, especially those with disabilities, take advantage of what's left of Ocean Beach when the prime access points are barely maintained?" Mr Wales asked.

"The restoration of Ocean Beach goes hand in hand with the dredging of the Ettalong Channel and the long term renourishment of the beachfront.

"It's time Council got serious about a long term solution to this problem so that once again Ocean Beach can be accessible to everyone," Mr Wales said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 17 May 2018

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce