The Port Macquarie-Hastings Foreshore Protection Assoc-iation held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday at the Port City Bowling Club.
The main focus of the meeting was the current status of Westport Park and the Port Macquarie foreshore with respect to the Draft Plan of Management, (DPoM) and potential development of the waterway adjacent to Westport Park and the proposal to move the Town Marina businesses to the western side of Koolunbung Creek.
The Foreshore Protection Association has some serious concerns with these parts of the DPoM.
Both of these proposals would require extensive and ongoing dredging of both waterways and the harbour and would also destroy
the character of both the Town Marina area and Westport Park foreshore.
“The need for the expansion of the Marina seems particularly hard to justify, bearing in mind that the Port Macquarie bar is one of the most dangerous on the NSW coast. The FPA has consulted with local boating and sailing clubs and the general opinion is that demand for an expanded marina would be hard to find with easily accessed,
“safe” harbours already existing close by at Port Stephens and Coffs Harbour,” a spokesperson said.
There is also the question of the effect of this expansion on our local, unique river dolphin population that requires further, extensive investigation.
“The proposal to move the Town Marina businesses to the western side of Koolunbung Creek would remove the “Port” from the CBD of Port Macquarie.
“The justification for this, as stated in the DPoM, is to “assist in transforming the area into a vibrant and iconic centre of activity” and to provide increased public mooring facilities.
“The Town Marina area is already ‘a vibrant and iconic centre of activity’ with the Marina businesses and the adjacent restaurant/café strip complementing each other and supplying a vital and busy part of the character of Port Macquarie.
There are existing public moorings available at the Lady Nelson Wharf and at the river end of Hollingworth Street, which are rarely used,” a spokesperson said.
The Foreshore Protection Association and the people of Greater Port Macquarie made their feelings clear in past consultations regarding the foreshore. In October and November 2008, 16,324 people signed a petition which was tabled in State Parliament, to “Save Westport Park”.
The petition asked the Minister and the Parliament to “reject any proposal to allow any foreshore reserve areas to be developed for commercial development”.The draft plan can be viewed at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the Taree Crown Lands office or online at www.crownland.nsw.gov.au
Submissions close March 22 and should be addressed to: Area Manager,
NSW Trade and Investment Crown Lands, Mid North Coast, PO Box 440, Taree NSW 2430.
Concerned community members are urged to study the plan and to make submissions regarding their thoughts on the proposals outlined in the DPoM.
Please make your feelings known to Crown Lands, your Local Member, Mayor and Councillors and monitor the website: www.foreshoreprotection.org.au/ for further information.
