Problems in Tweed outline need for Coastal Council - 15 November 2006

The excessive level of sand being pumped by the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypass Project poses a major environmental and economic threat, and is yet another example of the need to reconstitute the NSW coastal council, said NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“I have this week given notice in parliament of the Greens intention to introduce legislation that will bring back the coastal council, disbanded by the NSW Government in recent years in an effort to reduce scrutiny of their appalling record on coastal management,” Mr Cohen said.

“Since the Tweed sand bypass project began Duranbah Beach has been eroded by 80 metres and there is a strong possibility the dune and parkland will be lost. This would seriously compromise the surfing amenity of the beach, which is used for forty to fifty surfing competitions a year. This would obviously be disastrous for surfers, but the loss of even some of these events would also have a major negative impact on the economies of the Tweed and lower Gold Coast.

“Kirra Point, which is regarded by many as Australia’s number one surfing spot, is suffering the same fate but for the opposite reason – it is being choked with sand, and the famous break is disappearing. A similar result is occurring at Greenmount, Rainbow Beach and Snapper. The surfers and the businesses that rely on them will suffer badly if this situation does not change.

Kirra Reef, which is supposedly part of an exclusion zone to isolate it from this project, is instead in danger of being buried beneath the continual over supply of sand. This represents a tragic loss of biological community, including species that are normally found on the Great Barrier Reef.

“These over pumping problems are a result of the fact that the contractors are paid for the volume of sand pumped. The more they pump, the bigger their profits. This clearly counteracts the wording of the agreement, which calls for an adaptive management process to be followed.

“NSW Lands Minister Tony Kelly’s department is responsible for administration of the sand bypass project, and NSW taxpayers fund it to the tune of $4 million a year. I raised these issues with him in question time today, and the Greens will be ensuring he takes appropriate action.

“This is just one example of the NSW Government being unable to manage our coast. At the coastal conference I attended last week the overwhelming consensus from the assembled experts, local government representatives and various interest groups was that the Government’s continuing inability and/or unwillingness to look after our coast requires the reformation of the coastal council. If the Government and Opposition care about coastal communities and the environment then they will support the Greens legislation to do just that,” said Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Michael Hidden 9230 3305 / 0431 320 085