Narooma Commercial Wharf to be upgraded

The Narooma wharf is located at the entrance to the river just upstream after the dangerous bar.  Currently the space is leased out to commercial operators with a small section free for visiting vessels.  Usually one at a time.  While this is the incorrect allocation of space the majority of these vessel offer a great service to the locals and tourists who wish to visit the historic Montague Island, snorkel and swim in the area, as well as spend some time on the water at the island or further afield.

Some say that the establishment of the Marine Park sanctuary zones in this area greatly impacted the business dependent on visiting the local waters.  As many as 21 business went to the wall.  So what signal does this upgrade to the wharf area give to the interested observers regarding the pending release of the Marine Park Management Plan.  Well, one reading is that sanctuary zone will not be extended or changed and the commercial operators are safe while this plan is in force.  Another reading is that the current leased area will not be leased out in the future and the berths will all be available to passing vessels leaving these business to fight for space. In the 444 page document there is not a single mention of the current leases and what will happen to them during and after the project.

On the positive side. There will be at least seven floating pontoons - being 66 metre long (the gang-way just will not work as it is currently designed).  What this means having floating pontoons is that vessels coming alongside will be able to take on passengers and equipment with much greater ease than is currently the situation.  From discussion with the locals and my experience the tide flow out along this area very strongly so the piles and attachments to the pontoons will need to be extra strong and not the type used in the calm waters of a marina.  The low level berthing area appears to be in the area currently used by the large commercial catamaran fishing vessel.

Again it looks as if there is going to be only one fish cleaning table but a fish cleaning area adjacent to the low level landing.  There is going to be a black-water pump-out station for the commercial vessels but not recreational vessels.  There is also no refuelling station. This is a potential environmental spillage waiting to happen.  There will have to be extensive dredging of the area to make the depth adequate for the vessels that come alongside – a long awaited requirement.

The proposal is to  have a staged demolition and the removal of the wharf starting with the eastern section and take four months to complete.

Transport for NSW states the benefits to be far-reaching including: 

    • the wharf will be safer and more accessible to all users of all abilities; 

    • the upgrade will fuel economic growth for the area through improved access to coastal infrastructure and river systems for commercial, industrial and recreational vessels

    • it will enhance the use of maritime infrastructure for recreational and tourism purposes, with resulting opportunities for employment

    • it will mitigate against safety risks to vessels, passengers and pedestrians using the facility

    • the new wharf will contribute to the protection of coastal assets and environmental values.

Contained in the Review of Environmental Factor it clearly highlights that “Seagrass and macroalgae species to be directly and indirectly impacted resulting from the construction works within the proposal site”  and these will be offset by TfNSW in negotiations.  Now this gives a clear statement to Council that marine infrastructure can be built along side seagrass and their claim that it is impossible to have floating pontoons at Brieleys and elsewhere is “misleading”.

Now as any good local diver knows there is a population of white Seahorses  (Hippocampus whitei) living happily under the current wharf.  Well, worry not, DPI has undertaken a study by the firm GHD (remember them and the flood study of the new Batemans Bay Bridge – say no more, say no more) The project will relocate the Seahorses in snap lock bags to a new location and install seahorse hotels to encourage them to settle in their new home environment and give them support during this difficult time.  The relocation site is adjacent to the Mill Pond Boat Ramp or the Apex Park Pontoon so rest assured they will still have a quiet life in a new location.

Now the Association strongly support the relocation and rehousing of any animal but I fear that the current human homeless in the Eurobodalla don't seem to get the same level of study and support as these Seahorses.

“TfNSW is seeking community feedback on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF), which is the planning document for the reconstruction of the wharf to ensure that we fully understand the local community’s needs.”  The REF will be on display public display  and download from Monday 9 May until Wednesday 15 June 2022. at https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/maritime/projects/narooma-wharf-replacement/index.html

Two public information sessions will be held, where you can drop in and talk directly to the project team. These will be held at the Narooma Sports and Leisure Centre at 100 Bluewater Drive at the following times:

Thursday 26 May 2022 from 6pm-8pm

Saturday 28 May 2022 from 2pm-4pm

Now if you wish to comment Via email to NaroomaWharfProject@transport.nsw.gov.au

What do the local Batemans Bay boaters and fishos think of this project and why have we again been left out of an upgrade to our marine infrastructure not paid for by a Boating Now grant funded from boat licences?

 Yet another stuff-up at Hanging Rock Boatramp

This Eurobodalla Council bureaucrats seem to lurch from one error to the next with no recourse and no responsibility.  OK, what have they done now you may well ask?

Some background to this disaster.  Remember in July 2020 the local Member Andrew Constance announced a $300,000 upgrade to this location including: Building a 30-metre long boat rigging bay, upgrading the boat wash-down area with improvements to the pavement and an additional tap, extending the southern pontoon and upgrading signage and lighting.

Now we all know that Council without consultation took it upon themselves to change the grant funding parameters and extended the northern pontoon leaving the southern pontoon unchanged.  After a delegation of Boaters and Fishers confronted the Council sub-sub-engineer he committed to make some small changes like removing a high concrete lip at the boat wash down area and adding a low boarding platform for the less able and add lights at the end of the northern pontoon.  We welcome some of these.  Many other suggestions are outstanding.

The Association is still waiting for the boat preparation area, real road line markings, a tie down area and an upgrade to the boat parking to be delivered.

But wait, here is the disaster.  Council took it upon themselves to add SIX sets of street lights to the car park to light up the deserted area during the hours of darkness.  Now that cant be bad in anyone's books. Will they be self powered LED lights with solar panels? No, they are lights powered by Essential Energy.

Where will these six power poles be located? Three in a line to the west and three in a line to the East.  Right in the middle of where trailers park and without guard rails.  Where did the most northerly power pole and two lights land up?

Right in front of the leads red and white square and the blue light switched on a night.  So the power pole and light will obstruct the visibility of the leads for boaters crossing the dangerous bar during the day and more particularly at night.  Vessels are guided across the bar in the deepest channel using these leads.  Thus the captain of the vessel will not be able to distinguish the leads from the street lights.

What is the outcome?  Well the engineer in charge sitting in his cubical in the Council offices has instructed the sub-contractor to not install the sixth light.

What lessons do we again highlight.  Council must step out of your offices, talk to the fishers and boaters who can give them real local knowledge and practical on the ground information about the boat ramps and facilities and stop wasting boaters and ratepayers money.

 Finally the ramp to the floating pontoon was put in place late this afternoon

The pontoons look very good with cleats and bollards being installed to secure vessels. The piles are inside the pontoons to reduce damage to vessels coming along side. A kayak docking is to be installed on the western side

Read the Associations document promoting the installation of these pontoons here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eKD3UEATbZdY3xYcdnfi8axkTFN-4VhC/view?usp=sharing

 PM sends clear message to ESC Council

If reelected we are offering $20 mil marine infrastructure grants to improve facilities for fishos, boaties and campers he stated.  In a press appearance delivered at a boating super store on the mid north coast of NSW in the marginal seat of Robertson the Prime Minister highlighted the importance this sector of the market brings to local councils especially those like Eurobodalla located along the coast.

He stated ”Recreational fishing has significant economic and regional benefits – it’s good for regional tourism, creates local jobs and supports small and family businesses.  Recreational fishing delivers over $1.8 billion to the economy every year.”  

He went on to state ”We are also committed to maintaining our robust Australian Marine Park network in its current form, to provide certainty to our fishers.”  

Please note this last statement and we will see if the NSW Government hears his message.

While this announcement is just an extension of the $2.1 mil grants offered by DPI in January of this year 2022 – see the Facebook post by the Batemans Bay Boaters Association here (https://www.facebook.com/BBBoaters) it does highlight the Federal Government commitment to this sector. 

Mr Watson Smith of the BB Boaters Association speculates that DPI may have been overwhelmed by the scramble for money for boat ramps and other facilities and that the Prime Minister “read the room” and has offer a huge bucket of money to support boaters and fishers during this election.

“I can see the local Liberal candidate for Gilmore committing money to the local boat ramp upgrades to promote his chances at this Federal election – unfortunately he has to work through the local Council Director.  So don't expect much to be delivered.”

When the Association offered to assist Council in highlighting the opportunities at the last grant funding cycle they received the standard brush-off letter from the Infrastructure Support Coordinator who had not even done the basic of investigations of the past work the Association had undertaken since 2015.  No information was forthcoming regarding what Council had applied for, if any at all.

The Boaters Association has again offered to assist Council identify where the latest funds could be well applied based on our local boating knowledge but Council need the public's help.

The Prime Minister’s press release request their assistance quote: “If you know of a location that would benefit from new or improved fishing, boating or camping facilities in your area, you can contact your local council to advocate for their application to this program.”  The appropriate Minister’s Office contact number is 0408 819 399

 Brierleys Boat Ramp Upgrade – delayed yet again

Council received $700,000 from the Boating Now fund for the upgrade to the Moruya River boat ramp located at Brierleys which is adjacent to the airport.  This was announced in July 2020 with much fanfare and the obligatory photo opportunity by the then local member and Minister for Transport, the manager of Maritime, - the collector of boat licences from which this grant was extracted.

Those present were the Director Eurobodalla Shire Warren Sharp, the ex-Mayor, the Maritime contingent and Andrew Constance the current candidate for Gilmore (he resign this portfolios and as local member last year).  The announcement indicated that the upgrade was imminent.  

In October 2021 – last year, the attached plan was discussed with the Boaters Association to get local knowledge input on the design.  Time was spent making major adjustments to the proposed layout and questioning the lack of a floating pontoon and wastewater pollutant trap.  The chief Shire engineer assured the Association adjustments would be made and further discussion would take place prior to construction early in the new year – 2022.

The Association was not happy that Boating Now funds have been misallicated from boating infrastructure to tourist facilities which should be provided by the Shire under their responsibility as managers of this area.  The $700,000 is being spent on upgrading the only public toilet facility in the area, installing a picnic shelter, a historic information sign, relocating and installing a rubbish bin and landscaping with paths and resurfacing the car park.

What do the fishers and boaters get from our money – an upgraded fishing table and maybe a jetty. Total cost maybe $80,000.

The Association wrote to Mr Andrew Constance while he was still the local Member who flicked the letter to the interim Maritime Minister who passed it on to the new Minister who delegated the response to the Local Principle Manager Maritime Infrastructure who stated: that they will ensure that “project are delivered in according with the grant conditions…”  and that the pollutant trap and pontoons are still part of the project.

Members and friends of the Association have undertaken further investigation and looked at what can be included in boat ramp facilities and amenities under this grant.  It appears that Picnic Shelters and barbeque facilities are clearly not funded from Boating Now funds and the other enhancements proposed at Brierleys are questionable.

The Association is continuing the communication with Maritime but nothing has been heard from the Shire.  Is this yet another promise to use our money yet there is no delivery and tourist facilities at that?

Should your licence fees via Boating Now grants be used for tourist facilities which the Shire should be providing?

 Eurobodalla Sire Council Response to Grants

Finally received a response from Eurobodalla Shire Council Infrastructure Support Coordinator as follows in part:

“….we do apologise for the delay in responding.”

“We can confirm that Council has submitted applications under this grant program and are also preparing to submit applications under the next Boating Now grant program.”

“Council applied for projects that had been discussed with Marine Parks and had been discussed with us by the Community or Community Associations.”

“Council are currently in the process of preparing a Marine Strategy to identify priority marine projects, which will assist in the readiness for grant applications.”

Then a paragraph asking for information about the BB Boaters Association.  This person has clearly had her head in the sand since 2015 when the Association was formed and had not searched either their internal databases of Association or any communication with the senior executives.

It goes to show the isolation and lack of communication with Community groups and valid local knowledge stakeholders with the input of grants.

The Association has escalated the misapplication of Boating Now funds by Councils to an interesting level.  Watch this space.

The person undertaking the Marine Strategy has, even after repeated request, not made contact with any fishing or boating stakeholder that we know of.

 A new set of Counsellors and a very proactive Mayor has raised the question of the composition of the Marine Advisory Committees. A new Council Committee supported by all the Candidates.

The Eurobodalla Fishing & Boating Network has discussed this and proposed the following:

Introduction and Background

The Eurobodalla Shire has some of the best marine resources along the NSW coast.  The clear blue sea, the estuaries and river mouths are recognised as being a gateway to the treasures of the ocean and the Marine Park that fringe our shoreline.  Yet the marine infrastructure to support access to this treasure has, over many years, lagged behind the quality and facilities provided by other Shire.

The community and the marine users wish to change this and ensure that this asset gets the same attention and funds as other recreational precincts – bike paths and playgrounds.

Funds to enhance marine infrastructure are provided from a number of sources.  Boating Now is funded from boaters licences.  Department of Primary Industries is a further sources for recreational and camping facilities along the coast.  Fishing licences contribute to improve fishing related assets and the Shire’s ratepayers contribute a very small proportion toward real marine infrastructures.

This Advisory Committee will bring together the local community users, Councillors and the Council employees to facilitate the identification, prioritisation and development of project to maintain, improve and enhance the marine asset precincts for the benefit of the users and the community. 

Project management and fund sourcing will receive a high priority and importance in the business of the Committee.

Aim

To provide expert advice and local knowledge to Council relating to the marine environment and adjacent shoreline with reference to facilitating access, safety and enjoyment for the community and users.

Objectives of the Committee

Objectives of the Committee are:

    • To promote effective consultation and communication between Council, Councillors, all government bodies and the Shire's marine users

    • To promote and advertise this resources to attract increased usage, events and recognition to the overall benefit of the community

    • To promote the installation and maintenance of marina infrastructure for users to enjoy

    • To facilitate our community’s recreational time on and close to the water

    • To promote safe boating and fishing for all participants

    • To advocate for navigation and safety aids, facilities and installations within our recreational area

    • To encourage children and the less able to participate in the activities we promote

    • To pursue and secure the rights of our community to free and easy access to the public waters and resources of our area.

Committee Composition

Who should be on this Committee?  Will they come from Associations or only individuals with local knowledge and the skill set to contribute?

For a start it is proposed to have Two Councillors and the Director of Infrastructure or his nominee for a start.

What are your suggestions?