'Is Ocean Beach sea wall still planned?' ACF group asks
Central Coast Council has provided inadequate information about its Coastal Management Plan for the Peninsula, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation Central Coast group.
Among the questions not answered in the current round of consultations about the plan was whether a sea wall, or "terminal structure", was still proposed along The Esplanade at Ocean Beach.
"The coastal zone management objectives and actions should reflect community and stakeholder opinions and values," said group secretary Mr Norm Harris.
"How can the community have effective input when they don't know what the focus of the Plan is?
"What are the priority actions proposed by council to provide medium to long term resilience of the beaches from Umina to Ettalong with ongoing climate change?
"Will Council update the hazard lines for Ettalong and Umina Beach?
"There should be significant investment by council in awareness, education, and negotiation of the issue affecting our beaches defined in the coastal beach zone."
Mr Harris said that, while the council was wanting feedback on matters such as beach and rockpool access and dune safety, the Coastal Management Plan was required by legislation to show how the council would protect and enhance natural processes and environmental values of the coast line.
"It must facilitate ecologically sustainable development and promote sustainable land use planning that looks to long-term resilience, and mitigates current and future risks from coastal hazards, taking into account the effects of climate change including impacts of extreme storm events."
"If the plan is to be based on scientific evidence, will they accept that sea walls kill beaches and have a detrimental impact on the coastal ecosystems, contrary to the objects of the Coastal Management Act?
"There has been erosion around Ettalong Beach for the past 80 years, and the suburb is rated highly for climate risk to erosion in a study by Core Risk.
"Why has there been no public consultation on the Peninsula regarding these beaches?
"We are encouraging residents to contact the council to ask these questions now, rather than wait until the document is set in stone and the next storm arrives."
Submissions can be made via https://www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterways
SOURCE:
Media release, 3 Feb 2024
Norm Harris, ACFCC