Michele Grant, Foreshore Protection Group, Ocean Shores
A parting gift from outgoing Byron councillors was the resolution of contentious caravan park boundary issues and the adoption of a new licence agreement with North Coast Holiday Parks (NCHP).
BSC’s new licence agreement includes most of the forcibly acquired road reserve lands, but also requires:
- · the retention of Ferry foreshore and boat ramp for public recreation; Riverside Cres is also excluded from the operational area of Ferry caravan park;
- · retention of an additional 10m of road-reserve land along Brunswick Terrace – to improve public safety and amenity and provide for roadworks, bicycle path, car parking and buffer zone;
- · reinstatement and maintenance of a 3m foreshore buffer zone in Terrace Park and Massey Greene – a legislative requirement and significant, highly prized community asset;
- · retention of Lot 7005 within the harbour precinct for river-oriented recreation and community use; and
- · retention of Tweed road reserve for river access and buffer zone at Massey Greene entrance.
BSC’s licence renewal agreement clearly establishes new expanded park boundaries, that we believe are both fair and equitable for all stakeholders. There is widespread community support for BSC’s proposed new boundaries; however, NCHP has ignored the new agreement and recently erected a barricade to close Riverside Crescent and restrict access to the Ferry foreshore and boat ramp for park patrons only.
Local government minister Don Page is currently considering Byron Council’s new licence agreement with North Coast Holiday Parks. All shire residents who want to retain Crown land along our riverbanks for public use must contact the minister and urge him to endorse BSC’s licence agreement. Only Minister Page can finally end years of dispute over park encroachments and inappropriate management practices that NCHP are now fighting to ‘formalise’ in Brunswick Heads caravan parks. His email is: [email protected].
