Port Stephens Foreshore Management Plan

The Management Issue in the Identified Management Options section of this plan identifies "The Bagnalls Beach off-leash dog exercise area may be causing local water quality problems." The Management Action proposed (Action No. 87) proposes to consider converting Bagnall Beach Reserve to an on-leash dog exercise area. This is one topic that should be debated and the attention of dog owners drawn to this in the plan 

The Port Stephens Estuary has over 250kms of foreshore and has a wide variety of uses, what aspects of the foreshore are important to you? 

Council have annouced what they have described as a "punitive measure" whereby they intend to place 2 shipping containers (one on top of the other, they claim that they have little alternative, firstly to protect the new trees to be planted, but secondly to "send a message" supposedly to those that removed the trees,It seems somewhat strange that if "Joe citizen" wanted to place continers on the side of road near there property we would have to submit a DA, this of course would be rejected on the basis of visual ammenity, to claim that the placement is being done read more  …

The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report has projected that sea level is set to rise by 18-59 cm by 2100, with a possible additional contribution from ice sheets of 10 to 20 cm. In relation to the foreshore, how do you think that government agencies should respond? 

There are currently some structures on the publicly owned foreshore which although have been there for many years have been built without permission and reduce public access and pose public safety risks. What should happen to these structures? 

Council's ticket parking in Nelson Bay Foreshore 

Port Stephens is known for its natural beauty and is one of the reasons that people visit. The foreshore is a sensitive environment that also supports a range of commercial and recreational activities, getting the balance right is sometimes difficult. Do you think that this balance is being achieved and if not what needs to be done? 

Public access to the foreshore has been identified as an area for improvement in the plan, what are some areas that need addressing and how? 

I have read with interest the exec summary relating to the foreshore management plan, the council has a vast list of all the supposed consultative measures it has undertaken, what a load of political bunk!!!! If council thinks that the residents are going to be railed roaded again just as they have done with the last LEP, think again, Council will be held to account for the losses people will potentially suffer as a result of re-zoning and loss of current uses of property, wake up Mr Gessling, get off your behind and start communicating, the flip side is another countless number of compensation claims  

I believe that a fee is not unreasonable for commercial opperator to pay.However a flat fee of $30 PER use is not fair.Some boats only have 6 passengers and some boats have 100+ passengers.Some boats are 2 tonne some ar 200 tonne.There should be a fair system on size and weight and number of passengers.  

I have lived on Cromarty Road for the past 16 years and have the following observations and contributions about the ongoing management of the area.
1. My grandson tells me that the foreshore pathway south of Pearson Park could be elevated to allow access during high tides, reduce damage to the mangroves, and allow more people to use the area generally. It is currently a sandy and rocky path through the bush and not suitable for me.
2. If you are planning on encouraging more people to use Pearson Park then you need to improve the toilets. They are a bit of read more  …

Over the last 130 years there have been a large number of structures constructed on the foreshore within private land boundaries. eg walls, banks, drains, floodgates, houses, sheds. Now the local and state authorities want to control more and more of our everyday lives. Surely land owners should have the right to protect their property and their assets particularly as the sea level rises. This report if implemented will ensure that some of us are forced off our low lying land in time.  

I dont support the proposed Pathway/Cycleway from George Reserve to Soldiers Pt Boat Ramp. Many people walk along this stretch of the beach at the moment and it is an area already used by the general public. The beach from Kangaroo Pt is flat and easily accessible from several access roads. A Pathway/Cycleway is competely unnecessary and would detract from the areas natural beauty. 

As the exhibition period for the draft Foreshore Management Plan closes on this Monday the 26th May, council would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their comments.
Council will now compile all the comments left both on this website and sent in via post and make changes to the draft plan. The amended plan will then go back to the Port Stephens Myall Lakes Estuary Management Committee and then to Council for adoption. The amended plan will also be accompanied by a report summarising the submissions. This report will discuss how the plan has been amended to address the submissions and give the rational behind why some suggestions have not been acted upon.
This report will be available on Port Stephens Council’s website www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au after it has been to Council.  

I have commented on several of the topics in this forum and its occured to me just what an appathetic society this is, there are over 60 comments relating to "dogs on beachs" yet there is only 6 relating to global warming????? Am i missing something? 

At least a dozen "Authorities" presently have an input into the management of Port Stephens waterways. Many of these bodies conflict and overlap. For example, if you have a valid complaint such as water pollution, you can be shuttled from one to another and can even end up referred back to the entity to which you made the original submission! I guess you may have had this experience as have I. A control plan such as that envisaged by the "Report" seems to be an impossibility for the two Councils concerned as it will require an overall input by people read more  …