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I am very concerned about Council’s proposed plan to damage the Umina Beach dunes as reported in Coast Community News on November 18.
And importantly, the ‘upgrade of the car park’ and the destruction of the dune system were not included in original project plans and were not subject to community consultation.
This is the masterplan that was on public exhibition, car parking along Sydney Ave, not destroying the dunes; https://www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/Umina_RP_Masterplan_-_Concept_2.pdf
My primary concerns are mainly about the reduction of the resilience of the dune system and the resultant increased risk of storm/sea level rise inundation as a result of this loss of 2.5-3m of a dune in an area of the dune that has already been reduced by the existing car park space and pathways onto the beach.
Please take a walk along the beach and see for yourself the level of coastal erosion that has increased massively over the last few years with increased extreme weather events.
At high tide, waves are coming to the top of the dunes along the pathways – this is where the inundation will take place, in the first instance.
However, I am also concerned that the proposed car park will not result in an increase in any more spaces, counts of cars on the weekend show parkers are able to manage to park close enough to one another to total the number that the planned new park will accommodate.
If Council needs to formalise this parking space, does it need to be part of the Peninsula Recreation Active Lifestyle Project?
The original project plan had parking space elsewhere.
I am also concerned about statements from Council officers about extensive community consultation.
As stated above the ‘upgrade of the car park’ and the destruction of the dune system were not included in original project master plans and have not been subject to community consultation.
It is not good enough that Council officers now say that Council will proceed with the current design and undertake dune restoration works, when the proposed plans will destroy part of the dune that will not be able to be restored.
Council needs to demonstrate: details of any community consultation on this project proposal’ the completion of a comprehensive Review of Environmental Factors (REF) before commencing any work; and that the REF has addressed clauses in the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) outlining protections for ‘coastal vulnerability areas’ and possible adverse impacts on the integrity and resilience of the biophysical, hydrological and ecological environment, coastal environmental values and natural coastal processes.
To complete the project that is not consistent with NSW Environmental obligations and has not been subject to community consultation, not only do five mature trees need to be removed, but 2.5-3m of understory and root systems and protective dune systems.
Please immediately call a halt to this work and insist Council officers reconsider the plans.
To be told it is too late at a site meeting a couple of weeks ago just made the point of the meeting ridiculous and insults community members.
Email, Nov 21
Sally Jope, Umina Beach