Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has developed a Lake Cathie Coastal Zone Management Plan which has yet to receive ministerial certification.

The then NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes, after receiving advice from the NSW Coastal Panel, asked Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to make updates to the plan. Council’s development and environment director Matt Rogers said most of the requested changes to the Lake Cathie Coastal Zone Management Plan were procedural and administrative, reflecting work which had been done in an earlier study.

The amendments will also include information relating to coffee rock and revetment wall design.

The state government’s Office of Environment and Heritage and the council are working collaboratively to undertake a social and economic assessment of the coastal zone management plan.

The first meeting was last week. Lake Cathie Coastal Zone Management Plan contains information from studies and lists potential funding arrangements for a rock revetment wall with beach nourishment adjacent to Illaroo Road.

The revetment wall would protect the seaside Illaroo Road, as well as houses, from coastal erosion. The state government also asked the council to look more closely at the potential for stormwater redirection to minimise stormwater outflows on the beach.

Mr Rogers said the council had completed a concept design for the stormwater redirection and the council was working towards the administrative changes.

Lake Cathie Coastal Residents’ Group spokesman Paul Flemming said he hoped the social and economic assessment recognised the social value and amenity value of Illaroo Road, which he said was entirely understated in the coastal zone management plan.

“It’s a key part of the circuit along the estuary, without which there would be a great loss in terms of enjoyment for locals and tourists,” he said.

The state government’s framework for managing coastal erosion risks involves councils undertaking coastal hazard studies and developing coastal zone management plans which then inform landuse planning, development controls and coastal activities.