Input Invited on Coastal Zone Management Plan

Business & Finance

Central Coast Council has revised its Coastal Zone Management Plan for the northern coastal areas and is seeking community feedback on the proposed changes.

Council has worked with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to review the Wyong Coastal Zone Management Plan (WCZMP 2017) in response to changes to NSW legislation and improved information about coastal hazards.

The plan will be on public exhibition until 13 June 2017, said the official announcement.

Council Group Leader, Mr Mike Dowling, said that the draft plan aims to address risks from coastal hazards and outlines actions to improve the environmental and community benefits for the Coast.

“A plan for the former Gosford City Council area has now been sent to the Minister for the Environment for final endorsement but while this Plan is similar in design and intent, we must and want to seek community feedback on the changes,” he said.

“Without a proper plan in place to cover our coastal areas, we cannot apply for State Government funding to help manage coastal hazards and other issues effectively.”

After 2011, it was apparent that for some areas of the former Wyong Shire coastline the potential risk from coastal and landslip processes was not clearly defined. Council undertook a review of the hazards information to better define the coastal and geotechnical risks to the entire coast in the former Wyong Shire.

The revised hazards mapping is documented in the draft WCZMP 2017 to go on exhibition.

To assist the community to review the draft WCZMP 2017 and to discuss their concerns and ideas, two community drop-in sessions (26 May and 5 June) will be held during the public exhibition period.