Since planned retreat first threatened Wooli in Oct. 2010 the issue has drawn substantial attention from the media. The newspaper and TV articles dating from then right up to the present provide a very informative history of how the issue has evolved.
While each article below probes an individual aspect about Wooli, taken together they provide a valuable introduction for anybody taking an initial interest in the campaign to protect our community.
Wooli must retreat: plan – Daily Examiner, 7th October 2010
THE original Wooli village could be left uninhabited and to fall into the sea if a proposed policy of planned retreat is adopted by the Clarence Valley Council and other government agencies.
Wooli residents want the village defended – Daily Examiner, 18th October 2010
The cost of letting the coastal village of Wooli east of Grafton fall victim to serious erosion is estimated at over 150-million dollars. Residents are alarmed by the Clarence Valley Council’s proposed policy of ‘planned retreat’ which would let coastal erosion continue and homes fall into the sea.
Wooli Wants Protection – The Daily Examiner, 19th October 2010
WOOLI residents have met to discuss their fight-back against a proposal to let rising sea levels inundate threatened areas of their village. More than 90 residents took part in a meeting in the Wooli Hall on Saturday afternoon to plan submissions to Clarence Valley Council protesting against a council draft proposal to allow the sea to flood around 45 houses on a section of land between the Wooli beach and river.
Wooli locals call for compassion – The Daily Examiner, 9th November 2010
WOOLI residents concerned the Clarence Valley Council may let their homes fall into the sea are calling for a more compassionate approach. The residents, who recently formed a group the Coastal Community Protection Alliance Wooli (CCPA) say they want to work with other coastal communities to develop a statewide affiliation of similarly threatened communities keen to preserve and protect their communities and environments.
Don’t Rip out Wooli’s Heart –Daily Examiner, 11th November 2010
WOOLI mother of four Mel Shanahan is afraid Clarence Valley Council ‘s proposed plan to relocate the old part of the village to an alternate site in the village will rip the heart out of the community. What would Wooli be if there was no old village, Ms Shanahan said. I think the old part of the village is important to the community and what people refer to when they talk about Wooli. She said if council forced home owners at the southern end of the village to abandon their houses, Wooli would never be the same.
Wooli retreat estimated at $157m – Daily Examiner 18th November 2010
A MEMBER of the Coastal Communities Protection Alliance-Wooli (CCPA-Wooli) believes a planned retreat from Wooli would cost much more than Clarence Valley Council has indicated.
Wooli erosion raised in Federal parliament – ABC Mid North Coast 23rd November 2010
Ongoing erosion problems at Wooli north fo Coffs Harbour have been raised in Federal parliament.
Wooli, a bridge too far ?? – Daily Examiner, 25th November, 2010
If Clarence Valley Council’s plans for Wooli were adopted on a national scale, half of Australia’s bridges would be closed, according to an expert in planning large infrastructure projects
Erosion a man-made problem – Daily Examiner, 25th November 2010
A WOMAN with family connections to Wooli dating to the time it was first surveyed in about 1920 claims the Clarence Valley Council ‘s policy of planned retreat from the original Wooli village is flawed and dangerous.
Is There a Better Way for Wooli? – Daily Examiner, 26th November 2010
THE study into Wooli coastal erosion which has recommended a planned retreat from areas of the village at risk of being claimed by the ocean has been questioned by Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker. Mr Hartsuyker said the plan being considered by the Clarence Valley Council to retreat from the affected areas through development controls and a land-swap program could be premature and alternative options should be thoroughly explored.
Coastal Concerns Growing – Daily Examiner, 29th November 2010
THE second meeting of the Coastal Community Protection Alliance-Wooli drew a crowd of more than 85 residents, holiday property owners and visitors to the Wooli Community Hall yesterday.
Council, show your skills: Wooli – Daily Examiner, 15th December 2010
A WOOLI organisation is asking why Clarence Valley Council has not used its award-winning environmental planning techniques in Wooli.
GetUp! for Wooli – Daily Examiner, 18th December 2010
THE campaign to save Wooli has just heated up with national advocacy body Get Up! getting on board.
GetUp! joins campaign to save Wooli – Daily Examiner, 21st December 2010
The national advocacy group Get Up is teaming-up with residents of the beach front village of Wooli north ot Coffs Harbour to tackle the area’s serious coastal erosion.
Wooli Dune Care to be reactivated – Daily Examiner, 22nd December 2010
CLARENCE Valley councillors have voted unanimously to repair badly damaged beach accesses at Wooli and to reactivate Wooli’s Dune Care activities.
“Wooli campaign is misguided” – Daily Examiner, 27th December 2010
Labelling a Save Wooli campaign and online petition by GetUp! as misguided, Greens Clarence candidate Janet Cavanaugh has come out in support of Clarence Valley Council ‘s planned retreat proposal for Wooli.
Wooli Alliance ready to talk – Daily Examiner, 4th January 2011
KEEN to set the record straight with Greens Candidate for Clarence, Janet Cavanaugh, the Coastal Communities Protection Alliance Wooli (CCPA) has invited her to have a discussion with the wider community.
Finding Solutions for Wooli – Daily Examiner, 26th February 2011
A WOOLI action group is continuing its fight against Clarence Valley Council ‘s draft plan for the coastal community, and it ‘s getting some high-profile people involved.
Experts tackle Wooli erosion– Daily Examiner, 7th March 2011
WOOLI homeowners are hoping experts called in to come up with solutions to encroaching sea water will offer a viable alternative to Clarence Valley Council ‘s planned retreat proposal.
Expert explores erosion options– Daily Examiner, 18th March 2011
THE Coastal Communities Protection Alliance in Wooli has been given more fuel for its argument to deal with the coastal erosion issues plaguing the community in a way other than Clarence Valley Council ‘s planned retreat option.
Erosion “worst” for decades – Daily Examiner, 29th August 2011
RAY Pike has lived in Brooms Head for almost two decades and he ‘s never seen erosion as bad as it is now on the village foreshore.
View from the top – Daily Examiner, 2nd March 2012
BOB Stack climbed the many steps to the top of Wooli’s 40m water tower last week – but not to admire the view of the beach.
Wooli Artshow Boost – Daily Examiner, 2nd April 2012
ORGANISERS of the second Wooli Artists Gathering Artshow, to be held this Easter at the Wooli Hotel/Motel, say they are excited to have received an entry from Archibald Prize winner Nicholas Harding.
Cameras keep an eye on the beach – Prime7news, 11th April 2012
Residents of a small community are rallying together to try and save their homes. They’re funding a study to help prove they won’t be washed away by beach erosion.
Keeping Watch – Daily Examiner, 10th April 2012
RESIDENTS of Wooli may soon have some high-tech arsenal to help save their village from the ravages of coastal erosion. Tonight, the council’s civil and corporate committee was expected to recommend the installation of a digital beach surveillance array on top of the Wooli water tower.
Protecting Their Homes. A DEX Editorial – Daily Examiner, 11th April 2012
What is happening now at Wooli is a remarkable demonstration of community cohesion and one that could become the model for other coastal communities under threat from erosion.
Wooli welcomes new coast plans – Daily Examiner, 13th September 2012
Earlier this week the NSW Government announced significant changes to the way the coast will be managed, giving more freedom to landowners to protect their properties from erosion and dropping the previous government’s statewide sea level rise planning benchmarks.
Mayor seeks help with sea-level rise – Daily Examiner, 13th September 2012
Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson called on both the state and federal governments to allocate funding to address this issue after the NSW Local Government Association met in Dubbo. He identified Wooli and Brooms Head as places where action would be needed to tackle the effects of climate change and sea level rises.
Some answers to erosion funding questions – Prime7news, 30th November 2012
Work on coastal erosion at Lake Cathie appears headed in the right direction, after the State Environment Minister inspected the area. The visit comes after the local council opted for a revetment wall, to protect nearby properties.
Have your say!