Central Coast Council is set to receive almost $1M to help develop its new Coastal Management Programs (CMP) but it is unclear if the process can be completed by December 31, when the current Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) ends.
Wamberal Seawall Advisory Taskforce Chair, Phil Watson, has warned that the region could be vulnerable to major storm events after December 31 if the new CMP is not in place, with pathways to State Government financial assistance unclear.
Council has yet to provide a timeline for completion of the CMP.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said Council would receive $971,000 through the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program to help develop plans for the region’s coastline and waterways.
“Council is legally responsible for managing coastal and estuarine issues but the NSW Government is supporting this work by providing funding and offering expert advice,” Crouch said.
“The CMPs are incredibly important documents because, once completed, they will act as an instruction manual for the long-term management of our region’s beaches and estuaries.”
Council has been granted: $644,560 to complete stages two and three of a CMP for the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary; and $326,667 to complete stage two of a CMP for the open coast and coastal lagoons.
“The NSW Government has (also) increased its funding ratio and now provides $2 for every $1 contributed by Council,” Crouch said.
“Previously, the NSW Government provided $1 for every $1 contributed by Council.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the NSW Government’s funding ratio increase is an appreciated assistance given Council’s current financial constraints.
“Council welcomes the announcement that the applications for funding to progress the next stages of these two CMPs has been successful,” Mr Hart said.
“This funding will allow Council to complete a number of important studies and work with the community to develop these coastal programs.”
Even with the extra funding boost, Council has not yet provided a timeline for when the CMPs might be complete, with community consultation ongoing.
And it will likely not be the only LGA left vulnerable to major storm events after December 31, as councils scramble to complete CMPs to meet the State Government deadline of January 1, 2022, Council says.
A Council spokesperson said with only a small section of the NSW open coast currently covered by a certified CMP, most councils are unlikely to have plans in place by January 1 and are at a similar stage of CMP development.
“Council staff, in accordance with State Government requirements, are currently preparing three CMPs for our region – Tuggerah Lakes, Open Coast and Coastal Lagoons (which includes The Entrance North, Terrigal and Wamberal Beach),” the spokesperson said.
“Council has also partnered with five other councils to develop the CMP for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system which includes Brisbane Water; and (is) also working closely with Lake Macquarie City Council on the development of their CMP.
“Importantly in this process, Council is ensuring that the community have opportunities to provide informed feedback and that the plans reflect community values, based on available scientific information and consider best use of resources to deliver and maintain proposed solutions.
“A major milestone in the development of our CMPs was recently achieved with the completion of our phase one community consultation and completion of scoping studies for each of the CMPs (which are all a requirement in accordance with the framework developed by the NSW Government).
“A regionwide consultation approach was taken in recognition of the fact that most of our community use more than one of our vast and amazing waterways.
“The timeframe to fully transition the existing Coast Management Zone Plans (CZMPs) to certified CMPs for our whole coast will vary between the three different CMPs underway.
“Council is working through stages two and three of the CMPs during the remainder of 2021 and 2022.
“Updates on the progress of each of the CMP’s will be provided during their development via www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterways.”
Terry Collins