By NIKKI TODD
TWEED residents will be surveyed to gather their input into a recreational strategy for the Tweed River after a successful push by Greens Councillor Katie Milne at last week’s council meeting.
Cr Milne, who has long fought against the expansion of water activities such as wakeboarding due to their potential to damage the river system, said it was vital a whole-of-river recreational strategy was developed to ensure its future health.
“We need to look at the Tweed River in the bigger picture,’’ Cr Milne said.
“We need a whole-of-river strategy to determine council’s goals for the river. We’ve never done a survey, my concern is that the community very much wants passive recreation on the river.’’
Under her notice of motion, Cr Milne called for improved community education recreational use of the river, particularly relating to the cumulative erosive impact on the river’s banks from boat wakes.
She further called for consultation to determine the community’s current use and engagement with the river, their desired amenity, visual character and ecological aspirations for it and their priorities regarding facilities such as walking trails, picnic tables and boating facilities.
“We do have a lot of issues with erosion, particularly at Tweed Valley Way where a very important road system is threatened,’’ Cr Milne said.
The Greens councillor received support for her motion but was forced to remove any reference to the proposed Chinderah Jetty which other councillors thought would complicate the process.
However, Cr Warren Polglase voted against the motion, querying how such a survey could be funded in the current budgetary climate.
“How will be fund it?’’ Cr Polglase said.
“We’ll need consultants and a timeframe, how will it work if we’re unable to do it for another 12 or 14 months because of a lack of funds?’’
Acting general manager Troy Green suggested such a survey could be funded through council’s river committee.
Mayor Barry Longland, who voted to support the motion, said such a survey could only be of benefit.
“It may be large and expensive but it is our river and it is the lifeblood of the valley,’’ he said.
“If we can’t spend money on that environment, then what can we spend it on?’’
