By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE foreshore around Norries Headland at Cabarita Beach/Bogangar is set to become even more of an attraction to locals and tourists thanks to two grants from the State Government.
The popular bushwalking and whale watching area has received a major boost, with funding of almost $20,000 for interactive signs and a new whale-watching platform around the popular headland area.
“The residents association applied for funding from the Community Building Partnerships grant for 20 signs that will explain coastal processes, flora and fauna,” Cabarita/Bogangar Residents Association (CBBRA) secretary Suzie Bourke said.
Caba Trails group’s Ron Hankin said that simultaneously, in conjunction with the surf club, the trails group had put in an application to complete the boardwalk by having a viewing platform at the top.
“We get a lot of whales and a huge number of people through here every day so up the top there it gets terribly muddy, it’s difficult terrain and there is just one lonely seat,” he said.
“What the design has set up is a platform that will avoid the mud and come straight off the steps, and with seating built into the structure, so people will be able to have a far more comfortable time.
“What we are looking to do in the long-term is to open up more opportunities here and down around the lake so visitors have something to do when they’re here.
“This is for the locals as well as the tourism. A lot of the trails are there but they are informal. What we’d like to do is map them and make them available on a website so people can see what they can do and where they can do.”
CBBRA received $3087 to install interpretative and educational signage at Norries Headland, while the Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Caba Trails group’s whale-watching platform received $16,289.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest said the funding paid tribute to all the groups for putting in the time and effort to put in the applications.
“The sense of community spirit is first class in Cabarita,” he said.
“These will be valuable additions to an important environmental area – additions to the educational and economic wellbeing of the town.”
He said the people of Cabarita pulled together and “really have a vision for the future of their town”.
Caba Trails member Anthony Idle paid tribute to Nick Alderidge, who is leading the overall Cabarita Beach Community Projects Plan Steering Group and made Caba Trails aware of the grants.
“Nick facilitated the Caba Trails group to come together with Tweed Shire Council, Tourism Tweed and the local landscape architect Dan Plummer of Plummer and Smith,” Mr Idle said.
“The initial design for the platform was run past the Caba Trails group and put up on the web publicly for all to see and review. This led to a revised design.”
He said Tweed Tourism, Mr Provest, Dune Care, Tweed Shire Council and CBBRA reviewed the project and gave input or letters of support.
“The submission was supported by Patrick Raftery, president of the surf club, allowing us to use their registered club as a vehicle to apply and submit the application,” he said.
“It’s very much a community project developed and supported by the broad community.”
