Eurobodalla Coast Alliance President Russell Schneider has called on all Eurobodalla Shire Councillors to declare where they stand on “planned retreat” and Surfside residents demands for a fair deal.
Following a meeting at which 135 Surfside residents expressed their concerns about moves by Council to abandon their suburb to the waves Mr Schneider was asked to express their worries to the Council and seek a response. In a letter received form the Mayor, Liz Innes date March 13th
"In relation to Council’s current position on responses to possible sea level rise, I confirm that Council does not have an adopted policy to mandate planned (or managed) retreat. Planned retreat is offered as one of three options to proponents of development and it is their choice if this approach is adopted."... Mayor Innes March 13th 2018
Surfside residents have noted that the conditions set out in the DA conditions indicate that there is a "policy"
Above: DA condition 2018 for a construction in Surfside
Mr Schneider has now written to Mayor Liz Innes and Shire Councillors in the following terms:
“Dear Mayor Innes and Councillors
As you would be aware more than 135 residents of Surfside met on Saturday March 10 to discuss the Eurobodalla Coastal Management Program (CMP).
The biggest concern expressed by attendees was the identification of lower Surfside in its entirety as a coastal vulnerability area, and the effect this classification will have on future property values and freedom to develop or redevelop properties in that location.
The residents decided to establish a “Save Surfside” group and the meeting also resolved to:
“Request Council to withdraw the current CMP until:
• The new Act is proclaimed and legal.
• Stage two is reviewed and revised to include findings in the Sethi report, and;
• Impartial consultants are engaged to complete the stage three mitigation planning.
Request Council to negotiate with the state government to fully fund the remedial works needed to rectify the Surfside erosion and shoreline damage caused by dredging and past public works.
Request Council to remove the notation on DA’s indicating that Council has no intention of maintaining critical infrastructure in sea level rise affected areas.”
The residents asked me to formally pass these resolutions to all Councillors, and to request that the above resolutions be tabled and/or listed on the Council’s agenda either by the Mayor or any other Councillor who believes the residents concerns should be addressed.
The residents would appreciate it if you could advise which Councillor will place the matter on the agenda and when.”
Mr Schneider said he, and all Surfside residents and other Eurobodalla ratepayers would hope that Councillors would support their demand for a fair deal.
“It is obvious that people are genuinely concerned about how they feel the State Government and the local Council are riding roughshod over them,” he said.
“It’s obvious there are some within the Government who simply want to steal coastal property and return it to the State.
“Our elected representatives at both local and State level have a chance to say whether they represent the interests of their electors or the interests of ideological bureaucrats with an agenda that involves denying people’s rights.
“ I hope either the Mayor or at least one Councillor will declare their support for the people and put this question on Council’s public agenda and would like to see them press both Council and the State Government to give people a fair deal.”
