By NIKKI TODD
CHINDERAH residents will be asked to decide on the exact location of their proposed pontoon after Tweed Shire Councillors refused to endorse changes recommended by council staff.
In a report presented to councillors at the last council meeting, staff recommended reducing the size of the proposed pontoon and moving it 45m downstream after local fishermen objected to its original location.
Council in July supported a development application by the Chinderah District Residents Association to construct a 40m pontoon on the bank of the Tweed River directly in front of the Chinderah Tavern.
Funds for the $120,000 pontoon will be met by council, NSW Transport, Roads and Maritime Services, as well as by residents and the Taphouse Group, owners of the Chinderah Tavern.
But a subsequent submission lodged by Tweed Estuary General Commercial Fishers objected to the location of the pontoon due to concerns it could impact on their fishing grounds.
“The reason we need to make our objection to this proposal known is because the proposal is right in the middle of one of our net hauling grounds and will impact on our fishing operations,” the fishermen said in their submission.
Council staff subsequently proposed to reduce the length of the pontoon to 30m and to move it 45m downstream (east) from its current proposed location but residents are not expected to support the decision.
Councillors unanimously supported a call by Deputy Mayor Michael Armstrong to defer the decision on the changes until a public meeting could be held to discuss the issue.
Cr Armstrong said it was “inappropriate” to discuss the issue without first canvassing residents views.
“It was inappropriate to start really considering those alterations without community feedback,” Cr Armstrong said.
“There are a lot of different views about the pontoon at Chinderah and a lot of people from the community have talked to me about both sides of it.
“I think it is going to be an absolutely fundamental part of the community infrastructure for Chinderah and will be a key part of getting some activity on the river but it is a matter of making sure it is what the community wants and where they want it.
“We need to get it right the first time around.”
Cr Armstrong said details of the public meeting were still being finalised and would be published soon.
