AN Old Bar property owner will be asked to demolish the remaining structures on one of his Lewis Street blocks after damaging weather last week caused further erosion along the Old Bar coastline and left the rear of his property less than three metres from the escarpment.
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Greater Taree City Council issued Ross Keys with a Notice of Intention yesterday (September 9) following an inspection of the area.
"On Friday of last week, as a result of the adverse weather conditions, we undertook an inspection of structures on property adjacent to the beach in Lewis Street," said executive leader of corporate support, Laura Black.
"While the weather has abated, the swells of last week have caused considerable erosion and we have concerns about one particular property in Lewis Street.
"Mr Keys has lost some 40 metres of land in the past 10 years and in 2008 complied with demolition orders for two other structures that were previously situated to the east of the current structure. We understand and appreciate his frustration and anger at the possibility of losing another," she said.
In May this year, council adopted a policy of protection for Old Bar Beach, meaning council agrees with the principle of protection for Old Bar infrastructure, assets and property, but cannot put anything into place that implements this until the State government certifies the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
"It is a very difficult situation. We have had lots of contact this past week with frustrated residents of Lewis Street who argue that if the State government was to certify the CZMP and agree to the principle of protection they would have much more confidence to invest in protection of their property," said Ms Black.
Without that certification, residents say they are loathe to spend substantial amounts of money protecting something that government does not agree is worthy of protection.
"Council was required by the previous minister of the current State government, Robyn Parker to submit our CZMP by June 2014," said Ms Black.
There are two CZMPs before the minister currently, Greater Taree's and Port Macquarie Hastings Council's.
A change of minister has seen a delay in response to the CZMP by the government, however the mayor and Ms Black did meet with the minister for the environment Rob Stokes, his policy advisor and senior staff of the Office of Environment and Heritage in Sydney on August 5 and were assured a response was forthcoming.
Mayor Hogan and Ms Black impressed on the minister that an initial response was required in August and that the community has a very real expectation, with
which council agrees, that the whole matter be resolved by the end of this year.
Since then, council has had numerous communications with the minister's policy advisor, the minister's chief of staff and senior OEH staff.
The mayor has written to the minister requesting his urgent certification of the CZMP and also spoke with the minister yesterday morning.
In relation to the Coastal Panel, under legislation the minister may seek advice when considering certification of CZMPs and he has sought the advice of the NSW Coastal Panel, which is chaired by Angus Gordon.
The mayor was advised by the minister on Tuesday morning that the panel will return its recommendation about council's CZMP to him this week and council could expect a response later this week.
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