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Foreshore plans are outdated, misleading and dangerous

As convenor of Peninsula Dunecare, I wish to bring to your attention three major matters which should be considered when determining whether the revised Ettalong Beach Foreshore Plan of Management and the Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan should be adopted.

The revised plans are covered in agenda item CIT.20 for the 3 July Council meeting.

The three major matters are: superceded plan brief and scientific input; misleading and inadequate plans exhibited; and legal precedents.

The Plans are based on Patterson Britton & Partners studies commenced in 1998 and based on climate change information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published in 1996.

The world has moved on considerably since 1996 in its understanding of Climate Change and the impact of increasing adverse weather events.

In 1996, the Federal Government did not endorse the science supporting the impact of Climate Change - now that science is extensively endorsed and the recent devastating storm and flooding events on the Central Coast over the June 8/9 period highlight these concerns.

Ettalong Township is in a 1/50 floodprone zone and it is vital that Council ensures the protection of the low-lying Peninsula foreshore as a first priority.

There is little point in having uninterrupted sea views at the expense of increasing the risk of flooding and erosion on the Peninsula.

These plans, which propose levelling the dune system on Ettalong Town Beach and removing large amounts of mature vegetation, will increase the risks for all residents of the Peninsula.

They are ill-advised plans.

The Plan of Management dated August 2006 and exhibited for comment following Council's meeting in that month were misleading and inadequate for the following reasons.

Firstly, they made no reference to the serious erosion that had taken place on Lance Webb Reserve since the initial plan was exhibited in 2002/3 and did not mention the temporary emergency repatriation work that had to be carried out by Council in 2005.

Secondly, the development applications approved by Council in 1999 and 2000 relating to construction works in the Ferry Park Precinct were not show on the plans and the public is still unaware of the implication of these construction/parking plans.

Thirdly, the items exhibited included a long-term plan entitled View to the Future for comment.

On the advice of the Department of Lands, this item has now been withdrawn.

It is clear that the Plan of Management information exhibited for comment in September/October 2006 was misleading and incomplete.

The public was not in a position to make informed comment on such incomplete and misleading information.

Council should consider whether it has met it statutory obligations with regard to this exhibited material.

Some Councils that have determined not to protect coastal foreshores are being sued by residents; Byron Bay Council is one example.

The Plans now tabled for approval demonstrate Council reducing foreshore protection and will be a solid base for future legal actions if and when inevitable erosion and flooding events occur on the Peninsula.

Additionally, the proposal to remove mature trees and vegetation to "improve sight lines" will create a dangerous precedent which can be used as a basis to undermine Council and State tree preservation laws.

If Council has adequate reason to remove trees for this purpose then there is no reason why other residents cannot use such actions as a precedent.

The whole Ettalong to Umina foreshore tree vegetation will be put at risk and this will further exacerbate Council's legal exposure.

I ask you to support the 633 signatories who signed the petition to "withdraw these plans and seek independent coastal management specialist advice to avoid putting the Ettalong Dune system and The Esplanade at risk".

To not do so will be seen a dereliction of Council's duties.

Michael Gillian Ettalong Beach