Council to replace removed dune trees
Central Coast Council has told community groups opposing destruction of the Umina dunes that it will replace five removed trees with "16 new suitable trees within the precinct".
However, it has also said the dunes carpark project will proceed unchanged.
"Council is committed to replacing the removed trees," council's open space manager Mr Brett Sherar wrote in a letter to a representative of the groups.
"Additionally, Council will be funding maintenance works on the hind dune focusing on removal of exotic weeds and planting suitable trees and ground cover.
"Council will also be installing a fence between the new path and the dune to further protect it."
In a letter to Peninsula Residents' Association vice-chair Mr Julian Bowker, Mr Sherar said: "To complete the car park portion of the project, five trees, including one dead one along with a few saplings need to be removed.
"The project was designed, after extensive community consultation, to meet growing community needs to provide a safe, user friendly, diverse and active precinct to suit all demographics and accessibility needs.
"Council has worked closely with The Umina Community group and users of the recreation precinct on the designs of the new facility and will continue to keep the community updated on progress.
"The design of the car park and shared path caters for the high volume of cars and pedestrians while minimising conflict points for users of the park and the campground."
However, the groups have claimed the car park design was not publicly advertised, that it will reduce car parking from 83 to 50 spaces, and that the Ettymalong Landcare Group, despite being active in the precinct, was not regarded as a "user" group.
Mr Sherar said an environmental review had been completed.
"This review determined that the activity could proceed.
"Council staff recently met with concerned community members and listened to their concerns.
"Based on the issues raised, Council requested that the design consultant review the design to determine if it was possible to redesign the car park to avoid the need to remove the tress without substantial loss of parking space.
"This review identified that it was not possible to meet both competing objectives of providing improved parking and safe accessibility while not impacting the rear portion of the hind dune."
SOURCE:
Media release, 9 Dec 2022
Julian Bowker, Peninsula Residents Association