Matter 4 – Crown Lands Plan of Management – inappropriate categorisation at SMB

Kiama Council SMB Crown Reserve – Crown Lands Plan of Management concern about inappropriate ‘Park’ category along Seven Mile Beach. 

Desired outcome: Removal of Park category.

Background:

  • In 2020 Crown Lands directed Council to categorize Seven Mile Beach under the ‘Natural Areas’ category.
  • Council then lobbied CL to include the ‘Park’ Category. And it remains.
  • This ‘Park’ category is anathema for this environmentally sensitive area containing remnant forest eco-systems and endangered fauna.
  • Fallacious reasons for this inclusion were: to ensure the continuation of beach haul fishing and surf schools, and the functioning of a kiosk within the caravan park precinct, which is nowhere near the ‘Park’ category.
  • At the May 21 Council meeting the CEO declared that it was ‘unlawful’ to remove this category from the POM once the Minister had given approval for the POM.
  • At the August 13 Council meeting the CEO stated that the removal of the ‘Park’ category “may have legal consequences for Council”.
  • Both the Hon Ron Heonig MP and the Hon Steve Kamper MP have stated that the categorization of this Crown Reserve is ultimately a decision for Kiama Council, and that it can be changed at any time.
  • Councils’ refusal to remove this category lest they are held responsible for any detrimental activities on this reserve reveals their lack of commitment to ensuring that this precious reserve is protected.

Weed control at Seven Mile Beach Crown Reserve.

Desired outcome: A regular allocation of funding.

Background:

  • In 2009 An annual commercial weeding program was set up to be funded from fees paid by Gerroa Surf School (Surf camp). This was in the vicinity of $35,000/pa. There was a written agreement between Kiama Council and Crown Lands in 2014 ensuring that this funding went to weed control.
  • in 2019 Council cancelled surf school licences due to a tendering error which was exposed by a competing surf school proprietor. This income then ceased.
  • -Since then, there has been only piecemeal allocation of monies toward weeding. In the 2021-2022 budget, NO money was made available. This failure to provide an adequate weeding program continues, even though the caravan park in this crown reserve makes over $1million p.a. in surplus.
  • Recently Council has allocated $15,000p.a. for weeding, but this is grossly inadequate for effective weed control. Similarly, two funding grants have been achieved recently, but these are only temporary. What is needed is a regular $40,000p.a. allocation to engage a commercial bush regeneration business.
  • Weed growth control in this environmentally sensitive reserve is essential. Many old Banksias are dying and as they open up the canopy weed growth accelerates smothering native species regrowth. This reserve is the northern tip of the Seven Mile Beach National Park and is home to numerous endangered Fauna and ecological eco-systems and deserves special attention.
  • Failure of Council to ensure a rigorous weeding program for this reserve, again exposes Councils’ lack of commitment to preserve this precious place.

 Stephen Brazier GEPS

NSW Crown Lands Management guidelines – 

Categorisation and Core Objectives designated under the Local Government Act 1993 include:

‘Natural Area’ has sub-categories of bushland, wetland, escarpment water course and foreshore and core ‘Natural Area’ objectives include: 

  • to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem function in respect of the land, or the feature or habitat in respect of which the land is categorised as a natural area, 
  • to maintain the land, or that feature or habitat, in its natural state and setting, 
  • to provide for the restoration and regeneration of the land, and 
  • to provide for community use of and access to the land in such a manner as will minimise and mitigate any disturbance caused by human intrusion.

‘Foreshore’ The core objectives for the Foreshore sub-category include 

  • to maintain the foreshore as a transition area between the aquatic and the terrestrial environment, and to protect and enhance all functions associated with the foreshore’s role as a transition area, and 
  • to facilitate the ecologically sustainable use of the foreshore, and to mitigate impact on the foreshore by community use. 

‘Park’- The core objectives for the Park designation include 

The PoM Guidelines state that the primary value and function of Reserves categorised as ‘Park’ under this Plan is to provide open space for the community to participate in passive recreation endeavours for people of all ages. Parks also provide strong visual amenity which can be enjoyed and adds value to its surrounds. Another key value of these areas is to enable recreation pursuits and the use of spaces that are accessible and generally available to the community at all times. 

  • to encourage, promote and facilitate recreational, cultural, social and educational pastimes and activities,
  • to provide for passive recreational activities or pastimes and for the casual playing of games.
  • to improve the land in such a way as to promote and facilitate its use to achieve the other core objectives for its management.