Nambucca Valley Council’s Manager of Infrastructure Services, Matthew Leibrandt, detailed investigations into the V Wall area’s management, beach access and safety of the beach for swimmers.

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Submissions were received from Nambucca Heads SLSC and Marine Rescue Nambucca.

Both stakeholders outlined public safety concerns regarding allowing swimming at the river mouth.

“The majority of our emergency call outs are from around the river mouth and though some of the community might be aware of the risk of swimming at the river mouth, the committee as a whole believe the risk of mishaps too high for the community that are unaware,” said Aaron Honeysett, President of Nambucca Heads SLSC.

Gary Nichols, Unit Commander of Nambucca Marine Rescue, was similarly disparaging of swimming at the V Wall beach.

“The internal river beach is a constant problem with swimmers challenging the outgoing tide, trying to swim to the sand island or swim from the internal to the external beach, i.e. through the hole in the wall.

“In one holiday period, we had nineteen rescues in the internal river beach including a hectic eleven in a two-hour period,” Mr Nichols said.

As for making access safer and including a ramp or better steps for beach access, Mr Nichols suggested a concrete ramp would need to be positioned parallel to and right against the southern arm of the V Wall at an acceptable gradient, otherwise storm surges and extremely high tides would allow waves and sand to flood onto the nearby road and walkways.

“This barrier, although not totally effective, would assist in all but severe storm surges,” he said.

Mr Leibrandt pointed out that although the East-West section of the pathway at the V Wall is Crown Land managed by Council, the shorter North-South section, including the internal beach, is not managed by Council and any works would require Crown Lands approval.

Further complicating things is the fact that the rock wall itself is the responsibility of Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

“As any new beach access will need to adjoin the existing pathway, and cross the area where TfNSW holds responsibility, any proposed new access structure will therefore be subject to consultation with and the approval of TfNSW,” he said.

A petition signed by 500 in favour of replacing the steps, which have led to the beach for more than 50 years, was delivered to Council in April by Myra Hyland of Nambucca Heads.

“Please do not give us a list of who is and who isn’t responsible for replacing the stairs,” Ms Hyland told NOTA.

“We have come to our Council pleading for help in this matter.

“Our expectations are you will hear us and do everything to have the steps replaced.”

According to Ms Hyland the beach has been used by local families for swimming for at least three generations.

She said that although there is no designated access to the beach, many still make the trip over boulders and sharp rocks, expressing concern that an elderly, disabled person or a pregnant woman could fall.

Councillors noted the findings of this report.

By Ned COWIE