Tuesday 4th September saw Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) management team members meet with representatives from Wharf Road, Lower Surfside, the Eurobodalla Coast Alliance, and the NSW Coastal Alliance to outline their plans for a new study that will finally cover the long-standing Clyde estuary erosion issue that has concerned Wharf Road and Surfside property owners since the current bridge was constructed in the nineteen fifties. Ian Hitchcock of the NSW Coastal Alliance Eurobodalla told The Beagle "For sixty years, Wharf Road and Lower Surfside property owners have been waiting for a comprehensive study into the erosion of the Surfside spit and northern sand shoals that once provided their suburb with natural protection from coastal storms.
"The study is primarily designed to ensure that the new bridge design does not exacerbate the current erosion issue. The hydrological effects of the new bridge, now in design, will be re-modelled, and potential negative effects identified and corrected if necessary.
"At the direction of the NSW Transport Minister and local member, Andrew Constance, the study will be extended to include the whole Clyde estuary erosion issue. Community representatives expect the study to examine the cause or causes of the historical erosion in the estuary, and include a scope of works to rectify the damage. They will have every opportunity to make this happen, because they have been invited to participate in the preparation of the consultancy brief." Mr Hitchcock added.
The Beagle was advised by the NCA that RMS Directors were well advanced with the appointment of a firm of consulting engineers to undertake the study, and expect the consultants to start working with the local community within the next two weeks.
Mr Hithcock concluded "Community representatives expressed their gratitude to the local member for his response to their concerns, and the RMS team for their professionalism. They were pleased to see Councillor Phil Constable attend the meeting, but disappointed that neither of the nominated council staff representatives made an appearance."
Above: an artists impression of the new bridge that will see RMS undertake a new study "that will finally cover the long-standing Clyde estuary erosion issue that has concerned Wharf Road and Surfside property owners since the current bridge was constructed in the nineteen fifties" according to the NCA
