Thieves steal plants protecting Shoal Bay’s coast Port POPUP - DAupdate Port Stephens by News Of The Area - Modern Media - December 20, 2024 Mike Shaw from Shoal Bay West Landcare Group. LAST week, News Of The Area published a story on how Port Stephens Council’s (PSC) Coastal Management Program had been certified by Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, allowing volunteers such as Shoal Bay local Mike Shaw to lead a concerted effort to protect coastal assets. Sadly, after a huge mission involving the planting of 200 pieces of coastal vegetation, provided by PSC, thieves have uprooted and stolen some 30 plants. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “It’s quite puzzling,” Mike told News Of The Area as he repaired cycle tracks running through part of the recovery area. “We really don’t know why anyone would want plants that are really only suitable for the dune. “We call this area the missing link, as our ultimate goal was to have a continuous shared pathway all the way from Tomaree Head to Corlette, and this section was always the most difficult one because of the fragility of the dunes and the limited space here.” “I’ve lived here for 33 years and I’ve always been involved with work around Shoal Bay Beach. “Originally I was a member of the Council’s Shoal Bay Beach Preservation Committee from 1991, but this was recently disbanded and we now work under Landcare which Council still supports.” Immediately after the theft, local Facebook groups lit up with support for Mike and the Landcare Group. The Ngioka Horticultural Centre at Little Beach was quick to donate replacement plants and Mike sprung into action once again to repair the threatened dune area within 24 hours of the loss. “The Ngioka Centre assists a lot of the Landcare groups with plants and stock so we were lucky they could help us out” added Mike. The endorsed Coastal Management Program can be found at pscouncil.info/cmp. By Simon EKINS The red circles indicate where the newly planted vegetation was uprooted. The new plants above Shoal Bay Beach. Restoring the fragile dune area is a challenge. Keeping on top of repairs.
