Bateau Bay stairs to be rebuilt

In a major win for the community, the stairs from Bateau Bay Rd to Blue Lagoon Reserve are to be replaced.

Central Coast Council said the new stairs would be funded under the Crown Land Improvement Fund.

Member for The Entrance David Mehan and concerned residents were outraged when Council demolished the existing stairs in early September without any community consultation, deeming them dangerous and at the end of their useful life.

The community quickly rallied and organised a petition asking for Council to urgently fund and rebuild the stairs, noting that the alternative access via Blue Lagoon Beach Resort is inadequate.

On October 29, a gathering organised by the Save Our Stairs Committee at the Reserve showed an overwhelming interest of support by the local community for the return of the stairs.

An on-site meeting subsequently organised by the Committee between Central Coast Council and interested parties was held on November 6 to discuss the best way forward.

A Council spokesperson said the community was advised prior to demolition via social media that the stairs would need to be removed for public safety.

“As the stairs were not registered as a Council asset, Council does not have a budget to replace them, as would normally be the case for Council assets,” the spokesperson said.

“Following community representations, Council has been seeking suitable grant funding streams to replace the stairs.

“The Crown Land Improvement Fund has been identified as a suitable grant fund, as it can fund the full cost of replacement and is targeted funding for Crown land.

“Council welcomes the opportunity to work constructively with the Member for the Entrance, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and local community members to address this legacy issue.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the Bateau Bay community should not be under-estimated.

“The decision of Council to remove the stairs without consultation was a complete disappointment and disregard for the community,” he said.

“I commend the Bateau Bay community and the Save our Stairs Committee who rallied together to present a petition to Council with more than 1,800 signatures … to have the voice of the community heard and the stairs returned.

“Fortunately, Council has now agreed to reinstate the closed-off stairs on the beach side of the Reserve and intends to replace them as soon as possible.

“I wish them every success in their application for funding.”

Save our Stairs Committee member Judy Townsend said the committee was grateful to the community for its incredible support for the petition and the hundreds of people who turned up for a community aerial photo and the recording of heartfelt stories of the Reserves use.

“It obviously prompted our Council to put in a solid submission under the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund to gain funding to return our stairs,” she said.

Terry Collins