A SPECIAL Rate Variation (SRV) could be introduced by Greater Taree City Council to help improve and maintain access to Old Bar Beach.
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The proposal was canvassed last week at a meeting of senior council staff and representatives from the Office of Environment and Heritage and Department of Planning as part of the process of reworking the Greater Taree Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
The CZMP is back on the table after the NSW minister for the environment, Rob Stokes announced he would certify a CZMP that recommends a retreat policy for the whole of the Greater Taree coastline and would not support protection measures, such as council's proposed revetment wall. The State government's stated retreat position and link to future funding contrasts with council's adopted position of protection for Old Bar.
With the revetment wall off the table, council is now looking at what the NSW government position of planned retreat will mean for Old Bar residents directly affected by erosion and the broader community.
One of the key issues that council is looking to address is the need to improve and maintain public access to Old Bar Beach. Last week the Manning River Times highlighted the concerns of Taree Old Bar Surf Club about beach access for patrols during spring and summer.
Club administrator Jan Clingeleffer revealed that club members feared there could be a drowning at Old Bar Beach because Taree Old Bar Surf Club members could not get an Inshore Rescue Boat onto the beach, and added that they were also hampered getting gear on the beach for regular patrols as everything had to be carried.
Old Bar residents also want beach access maintained and that is why council is now considering a SRV to fund future ongoing work at beach entry points.
The Manning Valley community recently supported council's proposal for a SRV for an environmental levy. It was approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in June and allows council to increase its general income by 5 per cent above the rate peg of 2.3 per cent from 1 July 2014 for a period of five years. It is set to generate revenue of around $7.14 million and that money is dedicated to funding a program of environmental works. An additional benefit of the SRV is that council can use the levy to get matching funds for environmental projects.
It is this concept and outcome that council is now considering in relation to funding works at Old Bar Beach.
