Foreshore committee takes environmental input

Environmental representation had been included in the stakeholder committee for stage one of the Ettalong Foreshore Plan of Management, according to Gosford Council's recreation services manager Mr Peter Hickman

"Cr Terri Latella is on the committee, as is the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources," Mr Hickman told Peninsula News.

Mr Hickman also stated that he felt having a dune care representative on the committee would not have been appropriate.

"It is more of a bush care group, who deal with maintenance, where as this is about development.

"There are also councillors on the committee, which I would have thought is fair community representation."

Mr Hickman added that the foreshore design from the Ettalong Plan of Management was the proposed design, though it might not go ahead as detailed in the document depending on funding, or revised plans.

However, Cr Latella said she hasn't been part of the committee in the past, as it took quite a long time to find out which department was in charge of the foreshore plan.

She said it was only a month ago that she actually found out which department it was.

Cr Latella said she then made the committee aware that she wanted to be a part of it, and that she would also like to have a member of the community on board as well.

She said with the last committee meeting she was only made aware at the last minute, and so didn't attend.

She said that the committee is now aware of her interests in the matter.

Cr Latella also said she would be happy to take calls to keep the community informed because there had been a lack of transparency on the issue.

Lyle Stone, June 22