A Corlette resident and former Port Stephens councillor has called on the council to work with the state government to deliver urgent action before Conroy Park Beach is further damaged by erosion.
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Brian Watson-Will, a member of the Corlette Headland and Hall Committee for 30-plus years, said that a more permanent fixture was required to stop the erosion of the beach caused by the natural movement of sand.
“Three years ago the hall committee suggested that the five rock groynes at Sandy Point, Corlette, be relocated parallel to the foreshore to allow for the natural littoral drift of sand, which occurs eight months of every year,” Mr Watson-Will said.
“This work would allow the sand and water from Duchies and Bagnall Beach the free movement to replenish all beach areas along the southern foreshore at Sandy Point and Corlette's Conroy Park beach.”
Mr Watson-Will said that a condition of development consent placed on the original owners of the nearby Anchorage resort called for the removal and replacement of sand via rubber-tyred trucks to the beach area of Conroy Park.
He called on the council, as custodian of the state-owned land, to confront the NSW government for more permanent measures, in place of the sandbagging which he claims was only a temporary measure.
A council spokesperson said that the council was engaging with the owners of the Anchorage in regards to managing sand at Conroy Park.
“Council is responsible for the management of beach erosion and sand,” the spokesperson said.
“The management plan for this area has recently received in-principle support from the NSW Department of Industry, Lands and Forestry, and we are now waiting on certification from the Office of Environment and Heritage.
“Once the plan is certified, the council will become eligible to compete for state funding to manage our coast. In the interim, the council will continue to maintain and replace existing erosion control structures to protect Conroy Park.”
Mr Watson-Will said that the current situation had left a legacy of deep water adjacent to the marina rock wall and ugly sand bags where a beach dune and large stabilising trees once stood.
“Three years ago there was much community consultation, since then there has only been the sand bag remedy with more large trees left vulnerable and falling into the water,” he said.
Mr Watson-Will said that the relocation of five rock groynes, allowing for the natural movement of both sand and water, was also the most cost effective solution.
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