Coffs Harbour surf event to wreck dune

Thursday, 05 April 2007 19:56

“It’s a disgrace,” said TEC Natural Areas Campaigner David Burgess.

A map prepared by Coffs Harbour City Council and leaked to local conservationists last month indicates that 20 hectares of coastal vegetation on Boambee Beach, including an endangered ecological community and mature banksia forest, will be bulldozed to facilitate the hosting of the championships. The council has stated that it is dealing directly with the Premiers Department on the issue.

"The clearing of an endangered ecosystem and sand dune vegetation to build seven car parks, three toilet blocks and vast picnic areas is totally inappropriate and should not even be considered as a viable development.

The proposal impacts on land covered by the Harbourside Project concept plan, for which a public submissions period was held until February. Yet no mention was made in the Harbourside Project of the Surf Life Saving Championships. It will also impact upon areas with indigenous heritage values.

"The working up of this proposal has been clouded by secrecy and dubious information. TEC has written to the main parties today, asking them to clarify their position", Mr Burgess continued.

"Nobody is against the Life Saving Championships in general. However this development will have an enormous impact upon the coastal environment and would call into question SLSA's commitment to environment issues as outlined in their Ecosurf policy. We encourage the parties to go back to the drawing board and come up with a sustainable plan that doesn't involve coastal landclearing."