4WD access at wooyung

[Prof]

8th March 2009





Ms Sally Barnes,

Deputy Director General,

Department for Climate Change and the Environment,

Level 30,

Governor Macquarie Tower,

1 Farrer Place

SYDNEY. NSW.



REF: MD08/4872 - Letter from Carmel Tebbutt Deputy Premier and Minister for the DECS.





Dear Ms Barnes,



On Monday 16th February 2009, at Pottsville, Mark Johnston DECC Alstonville, Leonie Walsh NPWS Murwillumbah, Geoff Richards President of the Pottsville Fishing Club and the Tweed Fishing Club Assn,, Merv McFie Treasurer of the NSW Fishing Clubs Assn, the NSW EcoFishers, Tweed EcoFishers and Pottsville Fishing Club, and myself, David Cranwell Spokesperson for the Tweed Heads Branch of EcoFishers, Tweed Heads Fishing Clubs Assn., and the Pottsville Fishing Club held a meeting .



The purpose of the Meeting was to discuss 4WD Vehicle Licensed Permit Holders access to the Intertidal area fronting the Wooyung Nature Reserve. We as a body have been seeking access since 2004, but the NSW Labor Govt., has ignored our objections and submissions and been determined to enforce their Plan of Management that denies this access, even though access has been available for the last 50 years with no damage being done to the area.



Mark Johnston pointed out that Nature Reserves are covered by Govt. Legislation and other Guidelines, such as the Coastal Management Plans, and we as a body acknowledge that we have been aware of this circumstances and that is why our correspondence since 2004 has been directed to the appropriate Minister in the Labor Cabinet, requesting that the Legislation be amended.



A further point raised was that it was necessary to have the Government in Power to be “on-side” if any alteration to existing or proposed Legislation regarding Nature Reserves or other Marine Reserves would be considered. EcoFishers NSW is already aware of this situation, but unfortunately the NSW Labor Govt. appears to be doing everything it can to get fishing bodies “off-side” by not listening to their concerns.

It is time Labor NSW started to listen to EcoFishers, the voice of Recreational Anglers in this State, because a failure to do this will result in our continuing dialogue with the Opposition Parties.



Our Members were extremely disappointed that the Deputy Premier was unable to come to the Tweed, because her understanding of the situation is only a Chronicle extract of the History on the Wooyung Reserve since 2004.



We appreciated the willingness of Mark and Leonie to meet with us and discuss our problem, but if the Govt. is not prepared to amend Management Plans to allow access to the Intertidal areas of the Reserve then nothing has been achieved.



A further submission detailing the reasons why we feel this matter should be given your urgent consideration is attached.





Yours Sincerely.







……………………….

David Cranwell

Spokesperson,

EcoFishers Tweed Branch,

Tweed Fishing Clubs Assn.

Pottsville Fishing Club.









































SUBMISSION TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE
INTERTIDAL AREA FRONTING THE WOOYUNG NATURE RESERVE BY TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL BEACH VEHICLE LICENSED PERMIT HOLDERS



SOCIAL ASPECT:



The Coastal development of Black Rocks Estate is the closest settlement to the Wooyung Nature Reserve. It is separated from the beach by Mooball Creek, and access to the beach is via a bridge off the Coast Road some distance away.
No houses adjoin this Reserve.
The area is used predominately for fishing, not surfing or swimming.
Tweed Shire Council Vehicle Permit Holders, including Pottsville Fishing Club Members and other Tweed Fishing Clubs, who pay $224.60 annually for this permit, require access of the Intertidal area to pursue their recreational activity.
Current Legislation prevents fishermen with a disability even accessing the foreshore because of their disability that precludes their walking long distances carrying fishing gear to find suitable water,
Banning 4WD Vehicles has resulted in an increase in unsocial behaviour by certain element of society who disport themselves without clothing.
There is a lack of security for lone fishermen who do not have a vehicle close at hand.
A vehicle on the beach can provide prompt aid in getting assistance for swimmers or others in trouble on the beach. This beach is not patrolled at all.
What previously could be a social outing for the family, is now impossible with contact isolation because of a car parked far from the fisherman.
Commercial Fishermen are allowed to access all areas of the beach in pursuit of a catch. We believe that this should not be the sole prerogative of these Professionals as Amateur Fishermen have traversed these beaches without causing damage to dunes or beaches since wheels were first put on vehicles.
This area has a large number of retired fishermen on the Tweed, who see no logic on the ban denying access to driving in the intertidal area in front of this Reserve, which has isolated beaches and cannot be compared with the likes of the crowded Sydney beaches.
Beach fishing is a recognised sport and an isolated village like Pottsville does not have access to deep water boating or a suitable creek or river system.
ECONOMICAL:
Local Bait and Tackle Shops rely on fishermen having ready access to fishing areas. Turn away Fishermen and Bait Shops suffer, e.g., Bevan Wise, Cabarita Bait and Tackle Shop. His business was ruined with the closure of the beach fronting the Cudgera Nature Reserve.
The outlay of existing Beach Fishermen – Rods, Reels, Tackle, Bait and sundry equipment e.g., Beach Access Permit from Tweed Shire Council, run into thousands of dollars.
Loss of Sales to new fishermen when they find Govt putting more restraints on areas. It is not worth spending money on fishing as a recreational activity.
Vehicle Permit Holders support the Motor Industry, first in purchasing 4WD Vehicles then extra money is spent on rust proofing these vehicles for use on the beach.
The extra cost involved in driving from one end of Wooyung Reserve to the other beach access entry point. Currently a vehicles drives approximately 800 meters on the beach to the edge of the Reserve – to access the southern part of the beach, he has to drive back the same distance to leave the beach, drive 4.5km to access the next entry point and another 800 metres to the far end of the Reserve. Yet the length to travel the Intertidal area is only 2.5km.
The area is losing younger fishermen who choose to drive to southern beaches where there are no restrictions in order to have their vehicles close by – e.g., South Ballina. This results in loss of trade to local businesses.
Vehicles parked alongside the road are subject to vandalism and theft, and there is a cost involved in repairing vehicles and replacing stolen goods.
The cost of a Beach Vehicle Permit has been increased to $224.60 yet 50% of
accessible beach has been lost because of these bans. This cost is an imposition on Pensioners, Disability, Veterans and Age Pensioners.



ENVIRONMENTAL:



1. A downside to the banning of Vehicles accessing the Intertidal area has been the number of new access tracks formed in the Dune area.

2. The Social Misfits trample in and out of the Dunes and are more likely to disturb nesting birds than any of the local fishermen.

3. Commercial Fishing Practices where Pro Fishers use their 4WD Vehicle to retrieve their nets by driving from the water’s edge back to the dune area, time and time again, has the potential for greater damage than that likely to be caused by recreational fishers driving parallel to the sea.

4. This Proposal is to traverse the Intertidal area only. There will be no impact on any threatened species. High tides – Big Seas or a large ground swell will cause more harm to this beach than the few amateur fishermen’s vehicles will cause.

5. Pippis have not recovered from commercial over harvesting on this beach. In the normal course of driving, pippis are not damaged.

6. A proposed Sand Extraction area adjoins this Nature Reserve and has been approved by the Lands Dept.

7. 4WD Vehicles have not caused any damage to this beach as is evidenced by the pristine condition of Tweed Beaches. It is not as if hundreds of vehicles are on the Beach, as even on a Fishing Competition Day, the average of vehicles on the beach would be approximately six.

8. Licensed Vehicles are not interested in driving into or over the dune area, and in most cases there is a sand wall fronting the dune that makes it impossible to drive over from beachside anyway.

9. Local fishermen are aware of the tide heights and Club fishermen get off the beach when conditions are unfavourable.



RESILIENCE OF THE AREA:



This area was heavily sand mined as was evidenced by the growth of Wattle and Bitou Bush. Since mining ceased the area has been constantly used by amateur fishermen driving 4WD Vehicles. The beaches have suffered no damage from this use. Big seas cause erosion and damage, not 4WD’s. There is a distinct lack of Pippis in the area and this has been brought about by over harvesting by Commercial Gatherers.



SUMMARY:



It was the NSW Labor Govt. who introduced this Legislation that took away the right to access the Intertidal area fronting Nature Reserves. Primarily by gazetting the Reserve down to the Low Water Mark, and secondly by not including Licensed Vehicles other than Professional Fishers Vehicles to access these Reserves.

Governments can make amendments to Legislation to alter the situation and we believe that it is up to the DECC to initiate the action to do so.



EcoFishers, NSW Fishing Clubs Assn. And Members of the Pottsville Fishing Club have no intention of accepting the ban on Licensed Vehicle Permit Holders accessing the Intertidal area fronting the Wooyung Nature Reserve.



It is now up to the DECC to come up with a solution to give something back to the Community by taking the necessary action to do so.