December 2011

CCPA-Wooli representatives met with Clarence Valley Council on 4 November. Committee member Kristin Stubbins sent this report:

• Our collaboration and general relationship with CVC has improved markedly over the last few months.
• CVC has investigated potential state government funding sources for research into Wooli beach processes.
• Both CCPA and CVC are keen to start this research. Qualified surveyor and keen Wooli fan Brian Saye has kindly offered to lead the beach survey process and is looking for local volunteers to assist. CVC will support this process and Brian is meeting with their surveying team for discussions. CVC also agreed to help with the engagement of the Department of Environment and Heritage to support and guide our research efforts. It is important that all stakeholders agree with the scope and methodology supporting the research right from the start, so that our data is credible.
• CVC is also supportive of creating photographic records of beach processes, through cameras located on the water tower. It is envisaged that most of the initial funding we are seeking from state government would finance this process. We are seeking this funding through official channels (ie. through CVC). CCPA, through Kristin Stubbins, has also requested funding directly from the Minister ‘s office.

COASTAL MANAGEMENT ON THE AGENDA

Minister of Environment and Heritage, Robyn Parker, recently instigated a series of regional workshops on coastal management, held in October and November. Wooli, being a far north coast “hotspot”, was invited to send representatives to the workshop at Ballina on 16 November. Other hotspots represented were Belongil and Lennox Head. Scott Lenton attended for Clarence Valley Council.

As we were the final workshop in the series, we had already received feedback from previous workshops and were a little dismayed that the general feeling was that they were not very effective, with limited discussion time and opportunities for resident stakeholders to present their concerns. In response to this feedback, CCPA sent a document to the organisers before the workshop, outlining the messages we wanted to present and the outcomes we hoped to get. This thorough preparation and some incisive questioning by our representatives impressed the organisers and assisted in CCPA ‘s making its presence known to the workshop organisers.

As part of the consultation process on the vexed and complex issue of coastal management, the Minister is establishing a Coastal Taskforce to facilitate managing the impacts of coastal erosion. The membership of the group is expected to be announced shortly, possibly pre-Christmas. An inconclusive response from Ms Parker about whether hotspot community reps would be included leads us to think not, despite her statement that “the taskforce will be made up of key agencies, stakeholders and councils”.

Despite the shortcomings of these consultations, we can take heart that the issue is at least being recognised by government and councils as requiring more attention than it has been getting. It ‘s on the table, largely due to the efforts of groups like CCPA. Many thanks to those who put so much work into preparing for and attending the workshop and representing CCPA so ably:   Bruce Bird, Peter Dunn, Don Parkes and Tim Heldt.

To quote Minister Parker, “We all love our coastline and beaches. …. I want NSW to have the best plans, legislation and other arrangements in place to deal with coastal risks.” So do we all – your support of CCPA is vital in our efforts to achieve these strategies.

More details on the Ballina and other workshops is available from Peter Dunn on petedunn@bigpond.net.au.

WOOLI WATCH

The depressed real estate market since the GFC and the CZMP release has greatly concerned Wooli ratepayers. Margy Hewetson of Clarence Holiday Coast Real Estate provided the following about the current market: “Sales continue slowly but reassuringly, hopefully indicating some returning buyer confidence. We have 4 sales underway (already exchanged or about to exchange), in addition to the 3 sales since April 2011. Holiday rentals are markedly up on last year, with the fortnight from Christmas at almost 100% in Minnie, Diggers and Wooli.”

Margy also reports that the $150K marketing budget allocated by Marine Parks and managed by National Parks and Clarence Visitor Information Centre has earmarked $75K for marketing Wooli, Minnie and Diggers as tourism destinations.

AN ARTICLE OF INTEREST

The article in the link below may be interest to members. Brushgrove has successfully obtained substantial funding to mitigate natural flood risks. Wooli is struggling to raise funds for basic research into equally serious natural threats and this raises the question: why not Wooli too?

http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/content/uploads/111125_council_supports_brushgrove_flood_mitigation.pdf