Category Archives: Correspondence

A Letter from Patonga Progress Association

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A letter from the Patonga Progress Association regarding the Management Plan, to all Pearl Beach residents.

PATONGA CROWN LANDS PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

Patonga residents and property owners are facing draconian measures under a Draft Plan of Management for Crown Lands in Patonga prepared by Crown Lands and Gosford Council. The Draft Plan proposes a number of measures which directly affect the community and which threaten the peaceful lifestyle we enjoy. The Plan is part of a requirement by Councils to prepare plans of management for all public land under their jurisdiction, which means that at some time in the future Pearl beach may experience a similar process.,

The Plan was prepared without community consultation to identify either the views of the community or many of the issues which affect our lives. We were given 42 days to respond or it would become final, and only after strong representation by the community was the closing date for submissions extended to May 26.

While some recommendations are not significant, the thrust of the Plan is improving the return to Council through upgrading the caravan park, and making Patonga a tourist destination, one which conflicts with community wishes and has serious implications for traffic and parking on Patonga Drive and in the village.

Measures proposed include:
• the relocation of tennis courts from their present position in Bay Street adjoining the caravan park to a proposed location on the Eve Williams Memorial Oval and turning the present tennis courts into an overflow car park for the Caravan Park;
• floodlighting the Oval;
• extending parking in front of the Patonga Hotel;
• undertaking further dune restoration which has been specifically rejected by the community;
• encouraging more commercial activities around the wharf and beach area;
• gating the caravan park and controlling access, and reducing the parking available for creek residents in the area of the creek boat ramp;
• introducing charging for boats parked on the foreshore and requiring them to be stacked in racks;
• converting an attractive picnic area at the Patonga Street entrance to the caravan park into a car park;
• assessing the opportunity for privatising the caravan park, which may require cabins or similar facilities to become profitable.

Patonga Progress Association is seeking the support of Pearl Beach residents on issues which are of mutual concern. Submissions may cover general issues, or if you wish to view the draft plan click here.

Letters, which can be by email, should be sent to
Senior Manager – Hunter
NSW Trade and Investment – Crown Lands
PO Box 2215
DANGAR, NSW 2309

Or email; MaitlandCrownLands@lands.nsw.gov.au

Dain Simpson
President
Patonga Beach Progress Association
dain.simpson@gmail.com
0416025274

Rock Pool Update

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The Council has provided details of the Report on remedial works to be undertaken to the Rock Pool at Pearl Beach. The users have been concerned for some time that the raised height of the pool was preventing adequate tidal flows to maintain an adequate water quality. The works will take 2-3 weeks and will be scheduled for towards the end of Summer. Attached is a copy of the report and supporting engineering drawings.

If you have any comments on the proposal please let us know as soon as possible so that we can co-ordinate a response to Council. Please note that the new remedial works were only ever intended to take the pool back to the level prior to the renovation and that the grid is to be a rubberised “Envirowalk” to maintain access around the pool.

Roger Murray
President Pearl Beach Progress Association

The study and recommendations , by the Engineers, were based on receiving [min] the same tidal flows as pre wall build up/rectifications.

It was assumed that at this level there had been no previous issues with water quality.

An excerpt from an earlier Cardno Engineer report, “ For this study it has been assumed that water quality in the pre-rehabilitation state was satisfactory and a means of retaining tidal exchange to be equal or similar to this previous condition would be sought.

To increase the tidal flushings we would need to ;

A/ Increase the amount of weir openings, to which Cardnos, have clarified within their report, “ it is probably only possible to construct two or three workable openings in each end wall “ in part due to the location of the handrails and also not to decrease further the integrity of the wall and protection of the reinforcement.

B/ Increase the depth of the weir, to below .86m AHD, which will then lower the swimming depth of the water within the pool.

I would be reluctant to not cover the weir openings in such a public used space.

Children around water are prone to run, when they should not, around the ledge, also older people may find it cumbersome especially once wet and slippery.

The proposed grid cover is called “Envirowalk” and is a rubberised grid product that is used extensively in boardwalk construction, its surface is classed as “grit” [www.envirowalkgrating.com/PRODUCTS]

Download – Rock Pool Diagram Pool Diagram

Download – Rock Pool Report Pool Report