With its glorious sandy beaches, Soldiers Point was once considered 'the jewel in the crown' for holidaying families seeking a safe haven for children to play on the beach.
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Not so anymore, according to Soldiers Point Community Group president Jean Armstrong, who claims that development in and around the foreshore has resulted in massive erosion problems between Soldiers Point's eastern and western shores.
"The filling in of land for car parking at the boat ramp, the construction of the rock wall and boat ramps, coupled with substantially built structures on the western beach have all contributed to the alteration of the tidal flow around the point resulting in erosion," Ms Armstrong said.
"Soldiers Point has special cultural, spiritual, social and historic significance, demonstrating a continuous history of Aboriginal settlement and burials, and in 2016 the lands were described as having special significance to Aboriginal culture."
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In recognition of this, Port Stephens Council with the Office of Environment and Heritage and in consultation with various Aboriginal stakeholders, developed the Soldiers Point Aboriginal Place Plan of Management 2016, to manage and protect the lands known as Everitt Park, part of the roadway in Ridgeway Avenue and Spencer Park, Soldiers Point.
"The strategy for the foreshore between the boat ramp and the marina, as outlined in the PoM, was for council and other relevant authorities to strive to improve both the recreational and environmental quality of the existing beach and to implement beach replenishment measures and a re-vegetation program along the fore dunes to establish the area and restrict further erosion," Ms Armstrong said.
"Due to a lack of funding for foreshore replenishment, this has not happened. What was once an established foreshore below the council owned Thou Walla Sunset Retreat [formerly Soldiers Point Holiday Park] is now eroded so badly that it can no longer be enjoyed by visitors.
"The steps to the beach have collapsed at the western end and have been closed off at the eastern end. The pathway around the point is now impassable at high tide."
Ms Armstrong said that the poor condition of the foreshore had been brought to council's attention by community and environmental groups over a number of years.
"The land in question is community land and clearly, something needs to be done soon," she said.
"Research by environmental experts has demonstrated that the erosion may be alleviated in part by the planting of mangrove trees in the area to assist in stabilising the coastline and reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves and tides. It has also been suggested that a boardwalk might be a suitable option."
In 2018 Soldiers Point residents voted to have the erosion problem around the foreshore considered a top priority and this was endorsed at a council meeting in August 2019.
A council spokesperson told the Examiner this week that work on the project was scheduled to commence in April 2021.
"The project has a total budget allocation of $200,000. We are seeking further funding to support the project as the allocated budget may be insufficient to complete the ideal project scope of works, which includes rock revetment and a pathway."
The spokesperson said that the damaged section of the stairs would be removed and that there were no plans to carry out further works on the stairs due to budgetary constraints.
Asked if the council had considered the option of planting mangroves, the spokesperson said: "Council is assessing the environmental impacts of the structure including the effects on the existing mangrove population.
"It is anticipated that upon completion of the revetment, the environment will be conducive to mangrove growth and the population existing there will continue to thrive. We are researching the feasibility of transplanting individual seedlings which may be impacted during construction."
Cr John Nell said that while he had hoped for a start date on the project before the end of the year, he was nevertheless satisfied the important work would be going ahead.
Ms Armstrong said that the group was hopeful that adequate funding could be secured and "once again this special land can be restored for all to enjoy".
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