Sign In
or Create a new account
Port Stephens Foreshore
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?
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 24 Feb 2008, 12:46 PM
As one of many residants that live next to the foreshore, it is of interest to me just how council propose to compensate residents that will have the zoning of there properties changed drastically reducing the value of there land,
Brucep Comment 1.1 Environmental Services Manager 25 Feb 2008, 4:46 PM
It should be noted that only public land, corporate land and reserves have been identified by the consultant for potential rezoning. The plan does not recommend the rezoning of any individually owned private land.
Comment 1.1.1 25 Feb 2008, 5:44 PM
Again this comment is not correct, there have been several reports by different consultants and they have recomended re-zoning as well as resuming land as a "management plan"
Comment 1.2 27 Feb 2008, 8:04 AM
Is this to suggest that land owners whose land values are enhanced by rezoning or development will share their good fortune with Council as well? It is not the responsibility of Council to compensate anyone for changes in value. We all make investment decisions and must live with the consequences.
Comment 1.2.1 27 Feb 2008, 11:31 AM
When purchasing property one key espect to purchase is zoning, that determines what uses the land can be put to, to have council or indeed any one else change a zoning that has been in place for the past 50 years is not right, this isnt the stock exchange
Comment 1.2.1.1 11 Mar 2008, 5:53 PM
I don't think it has ever been suggested that anyone's private land be subject to rezoning by PSC or anyone else. The plan might recommend rezoning of some public lands however, either to protect them or exploit them (if that is in the public interest).
Comment 1.2.1.1.1 12 Mar 2008, 4:42 PM
Well it has been suggested, indeed its a recomendation of the catchment management plan that private land should be re-zoned and in some instances resuming is being considered as a management tool
Comment 1.3 22 May 2008, 8:51 PM
Much of this land is not zoned for future development and in a lot of cases was bought as a speculative investment.
Can't have it both ways.
Comment 2 26 Feb 2008, 7:09 PM
I have been a regular visitor to Port Stephens since the early 1970s. Back then we spent a lot of time at Shoalbay, more recently we holiday at Soldiers Point. The areas that are important to me are Sunset Beach at Soldiers Point, the Nelson Bay Marina, the Shoalbay restaurant strip.
Sunset Beach is great, the parking and toilet block could do with a bit of a tidy up. Nelson Bay Marina is looking a bit jadded and could do with a pick me up. The Shoalbay restaurant strip has lots more potential. It could be something quite wonderful with a little imagination.
Comment 2.1 28 Feb 2008, 10:39 PM
I agree completely
Comment 3 26 Feb 2008, 8:03 PM
I am a resident of Soldiers Point Crometry Bay Road, and would like to know if the thick vegetation & mudflap beaches are going to be cleaned up or reproduced into tidy scenic ocean views. Is there going to be walk ways and paths to follow around the point to the boat club. Also are they going to maintain the parks and reserves instead of having dangerously thick scrub to walk though to the waters edge.????
Comment 4 28 Feb 2008, 10:44 PM
My first visit to Port Stephens was on my honeymoon 29 years ago and we went back for our anniversary each year until we finally purchased property in 1996. We still live out of the area but visit about 10 times a year.
Over this time it has been a pleasure to see the good development along the foreshore such as has been mentioned in the comment above.
I believe Shoal Bay is the real jewel in the crown and believe that good development in keeping with the way in which it is used would be critical. As such, the grassy foreshore next to the road would do well if it had lots more attractive benches, sitting areas, BBQ areas in keeping with families enjoying the environment. This would keep the aspect and current use but enhance the "vibe" dramatically with relatively low cost investment by Council.
Other things Council could do relate to those rotten parking meters in the Nelson Bay area. See the discussion thread on the parking for details
Comment 5 3 Mar 2008, 7:04 AM
A pathway between Joe Redman Reserve and Wanda Head is not needed. Every day dozens of locals (many elderly)walk on the nice grassy lawns maintained by the residents. A cycleway would put these elderly walkers at risk of serious injury and the Council subject to being sued. Additionally, a constructed concrete cycle path would ruin the visual beauty of the area. Let's not waste rate-payers money on unneeded unwanted paths. If needed, and there is no evidence of a need, put up a sign at both points.
Barry
Comment 5.1 7 Mar 2008, 5:30 PM
I think there is a definite need for better signage and well marked "entry and exit points" to the foreshore. I don't agree with a concrete pathway concept but the foreshore belongs to the people too and we should not feel we are walking in someone's property or front yard. I've seen too many "lock outs" of the foreshore overseas and it's a real put off for tourism (and for local residents)
Comment 5.2 9 May 2008, 9:47 PM
Instead why not join up the existing paths between Anna Bay and Boat Harbour and put a safe crossing place so that we don't have to travel 200m on loose gravel by the side of 80KM zone and then try and cross the road safely?
Comment 6 11 Mar 2008, 8:47 AM
I agree with a concrete pathway on the foreshore as there is no paved footpath for wheelchair access between Joe Redman Reserve and the Wanda shopping strip. Therefore people in wheelchairs are forced onto the road.
The gravel section from the end of Cook street around Wanda Head is beginning to deteriorate and needs constant grading particularly after heavy rain. The steep section at the end of the track needs to be made into a gentle incline.
Comment 7 11 Mar 2008, 8:32 PM
As a residant of Salt Ash I would like to see this suberb be given the same level of consideration as the tourist areas of Port Stephen. My road is filled with holes upon holes, we are unable to walk to the local parks/waterways as there is no footpath to walk on. There are no passing lanes for heavy vehical to move to. The traffic has incresed 100% with the opening up of new housing development with plans to add more homes. The road speed of vehicles do not reflect that of other residential areas. The maintenance of road side ditches and open drains is none existent. I have lived here for 6 years and never seen the open drains on Lemon Tree Passage Rd maintained. Do the flood gates still work?
Lets have a fair division of rate payers/government money spent in reaching equal opportunities and equity for all.
Comment 8 18 Mar 2008, 3:42 PM
Deleted as info posted in wrong section
Comment 9 5 May 2008, 12:48 PM
I would like to see Port Stephens forshore have a continual concrete cycle/pathway for all to share. Extending the existing Bagnalls Beach path to Wanda Headland/Soldiers Point and keeping it as near to the foreshore as possible is a must. Wheelchair access is paramount for people with disablities and many of our elderly drive scooters so they also need to be considered. Family cycling is a great healthy activity and we should generate a safe environment for those who participate. Bench seating along the way would be a wonderful advantage to sit, view and enjoy our magical coastline.
Comment 10 22 May 2008, 9:46 PM
As a Tea Gardens resident, I am particulary concerned about the future of the land between the Tea Gardens council offices and what is known as Limekilns. We know this area locally as "the moors". It has a rich European and Indigenous history. This is a unique area of wetlands, supporting a rich variety of flora, forna and birdlife, bordering the Myall River which forms part of the Ramsar listed wetland. This area is in private hands and I welcome the recommendation of the study FOR COUNCILS TO PURCHASE THIS LAND. Yes, that is the recommendation. Problem is, council has more…