Protect Wooli

Protect Wooli From Coastal Erosion

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Next Steps to Protect Wooli

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Wooli’s first beach scraping project is complete and so far looks like a resounding success. Not only was it finished within budget and on time, but it also added 40% more sand to the dunes than was expected. The low tide area of the beach recovered very quickly and no environmental or heritage damage was done. In addition, new sand-traps were installed and the first stage of replanting completed (see photo). The most at-risk part of the village, the southernmost 800 metres, is now well protected from the next 1-in-20-years storm.

 

But the question remains, “what about even bigger storms”?

Our most recent expert advice, the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2018, recommends the at-risk dunes be nourished with 60,000 cubic metres of sand to provide the best protection from a 1-in-50-years storm. The CZMP also recommends this sand be sourced from the Wilsons Headland end of the beach supplemented by further local beach scraping. Council is continuing to progress the CZMP through various state government departments, Native Title and its own budget process. However, we should expect that to secure the necessary funding ($2m) and licences to implement the Wilsons Headland Nourishment project will take years, not months, to achieve.

 

In the meantime, an interim solution could well be a second Beach Scraping Project.

This would add enough sand for the dune to withstand a 1-in-30-years storm and would get us 50% of the way to the target of 60,000 cubic metres described above.

Repeated scraping has several major advantages: it has a history of success (New Brighton has done 3 now), is relatively inexpensive compared to Nourishment, involves no major licensing issues and is rapidly achievable. It could be completed by mid-2020 if we start preparing now.

We suggest this approach:

1.  CCPA to write to Council proposing a second beach scraping project to be completed in 2020 and funded as per the first project, ie. $50,000 from the State government and $25,000 each from CCPA and Council.

2. CCPA to commence raising $25,000 as soon possible, subject to positive feedback from Council and State.

How to Vote

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To vote online you’ll need three things:

  • Your residential address in the Clarence Valley
  • Your Medicare card to confirm your name and age
  • A MyServiceNSW account. (Don’t worry if you haven’t got one yet, we’ll help you set one up)

Here’s a list of easy steps to cast your vote:

1.  Log in to the voting system

  • You’ll be given a link to the Home Screen where you can click on “Log In” in the top right hand corner of the screen
  • If you have a MyServiceNSW account, you can then enter your email and password and click log in.
  • Otherwise, if you don’t have an account, or you’re not sure,  click on “Sign up” to set one up. Click here if you need some help with this.

2. Enter “My Community Project”

  • Once logged in, you’ll see the “Welcome” screen.
  • Click on “My Community Project” in the Services box in the middle of that screen.

3. Confirm your Identity using your Medicare details

4. Confirm your Eligibility to vote in the Clarence using your residential address

5. Choose your Shortlist of Community Projects including the Wooli Beach Safe Accessways project plus two others

6. Make your first preference Wooli Beach Safe Accessways

7. Confirm your vote.

Log-off and that’s it.

Setting up a MyNSWServices account

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To start setting up your account click here.

Enter your email address and password, confirm your password, tick the 3 boxes and click the “Next” button.

You’ll then be emailed a 6-digit CODE which you need to enter to activate your account.

Now you’ll see the Log in screen where you can enter your email address and password, then click the “Log in ” button.

Finally, you can click the “Skip” button on the “Personal Details” screen (or enter those details if you wish.

All done.

Vote

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Thanks for taking a few minutes to vote for the Wooli Beach Safe Accessways project.

Before you begin, please read this brief message on how to vote by clicking here.

To get started, log in (at the top left hand corner of the Home Screen) by clicking here. 

If you’d rather vote by phone call 137788, or visit the NSW Service Centre in Maclean at 50 River St or in Grafton at 3 King St.

If you have questions or need help

Voting closes on August 15th and the NSW government will announce the results of the vote in September.

Safe and Easy beach access

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THE PROBLEM

We all know the sorry state of Wooli’s beach access-ways, both the steep and damaged Geotech-bag variety (pictured) and the buried board-and-chain version. We also know Council lacks funds to fix the problem.

 

 

THE SOLUTION

It was therefore very welcome news to hear that the N.S.W government has recently established a fund (called “My Community Project“) which could be the answer.

Our application for this funding has been submitted, with Council as our Sponsor. 

 

A SUCCESSFUL RESULT would  provide safe and easy access for all Wooli beach goers, 

regardless of age or abilities, by changing from this,

to something more like this.

In addition, ramps would be provided for the flatter access ways to encourage visitors in wheelchairs to enjoy the beach.

HOW YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN

There are two really important things you can do.

Firstly, cast your Vote for this project by following these instructions. Remember, we’re competing against a number of other projects so its really important that you make Wooli’s Beach Accesses your MOST PREFERRED project. If you need help, please see Bruce at the Post Office or Lyn at the Caltex shop.

Secondly, once you’ve voted, contact your family and friends, who live in the Clarence Valley and are 16 years or over, and ask them to vote for it too. Then just copy this page and send it to them.