COUNCIL has invited the community to provide feedback on its Coastal Management Program (CMP).

Council is developing the CMP in accordance with the Coastal Management Act 2016, setting the long-term strategy for managing our coastline.

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This week, and again in June, Council is hosting sessions for the community to attend and be involved in the planning process.

Councillor Giacomo Arnott said the coast is one of our region’s greatest assets and it’s constantly changing.

“Port Stephens is known for its unique coastal zones and we’re blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful sandy beaches, rocky headlands, mangrove areas, saltmarshes and seagrass beds,” Cr Arnott said.

“We know the community has concerns about the changing coastal environment and we’re already seeing and experiencing some of these changes.

“The Coastal Management Program will identify risks to our coast and how we can prepare our communities from the impact of climate change now and into the future.

“We need to work on reducing the impacts of a changing coastal environment so that we can all continue to enjoy the benefits of the coast for years to come,” he added.

The Coastal Management Plan is a five stage process and Council has already completed stages 1 and 2.

Stage 1 identified a range of priority threats affecting the Port Stephens coastal zone.

These include coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation, stormwater management, biosecurity threats, land clearing and run-off.

In Stage 2, the priority coastal hazards; coastal erosion, tidal inundation, coastal inundation (caused by storm events) and wind-blown sand were mapped for 2020, 2040, 2070 and 2120.

Strategy and Environment Section Manager Brock Lamont said Council is now moving into Stage 3 of the program, working with the community to consider options to manage the identified hazards and threats to our coastal zone.

“We’ll be holding four drop-in sessions in May where the community can meet with Council staff and coastal

specialists to learn more about the coastal hazards and look over the key management areas to see what’s involved,” Mr Lamont said.

“We want to understand what’s important to the community and integrate this into Council’s priorities and response to the increasing coastal hazards.

“Residents can drop in anytime between the allocated hours at each location,” he added.

Additional drop-in sessions will be held in June to discuss and identify potential strategies to manage the risks to the coast.

These workshops will be available both online and face-to-face.

Community Input

Depending on which community group we asked, the issues with management of the region’s coastal areas are wide ranging.

Kathy Brown of the Mambo Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group told News Of The Area, “The issues that are of concern to the Mambo Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group include the preservation of 109 Foreshore Drive with no development on the site; Foreshore Drive Bridge; compliance and Council’s ability to address issues such as illegal tree felling, sea walls, dumping of garden waste and being able to enforce fines for noncompliance; and the protection of wetlands which provide a filter for entering sea water and create a breeding ground for marine animals and shelter for land based species.

“Port Stephens Council through this Coastal Management Program has an opportunity to educate the public about protecting our mangroves and wetlands and to develop an appreciation for the role that wetlands play in coastal protection,” she said.

Roz Armstrong of the Soldiers Point Community Group said, “I believe there is a need to address the confusing situations in respect of waterfront property titles for property owners and the community.

“Doing this will provide amongst other things: clarity of title for property owners and therefore gardening and watering boundary; clarify beach ownership vis a vis Crown Land; local reserve and private property providing a starting point to managing the situation of unauthorised beach structures like the ageing private boat ramps and the beach retaining walls built by property owners to manage tide surges but end up blocking access to the beach by members of the public; provide clear protocols for prosecution for the removal of seaweed and sand from the beaches,
poisoning of trees and removing of vegetation; allow for the peaceful worry free access to all beaches by the public and clarify the erection of illegal structures to facilitate boat mooring.

Community members can have their say on future management options by completing a survey from 7 June to 28 June 2023.

Feedback from the workshops and survey will inform the draft Coastal Management Program, which will be available for further comment during a formal public exhibition period next year.

Drop-in and engagement sessions

To read more or to register your interest to get involved and have your say visit pscouncil.info/cmp

By Marian SAMPSON