Patricia Warren, Brunswick Heads
North Coast Holiday Parks/North Coast Accommodation Trust is well aware that the operational boundaries of the caravan park at Ferry Reserve never did – nor does Byron Shire Council intend that they ever will – include Riverside Crescent. This was restated in Council’s latest licensing conditions 9 August 2012! Those conditions continued to exclude all the land, inclusive of the bituminised road surface across the grassed area to the high-water mark from the operational area of the caravan park, ie outside the legal boundaries.
The compulsory acquisition of part of Riverside Crescent meant that it was merely added to the Crown reserve. It is nothing less than foul play if not illegal for NCHP/NCAT to pre-empt its change of use!
Barricading Riverside Crescent while allowing vehicular movement to the boat ramp and along the foreshore is nothing less than an act of provocation, particularly in the current climate of impasse between NCHP/NCAT and Byron Shire Council over the current licensing conditions.
The fact that a group of extremely well-informed locals had the courage to bring attention to what is happening at Ferry Reserve – and to the bigger picture of the caravan parks issue – puts the public in debt to them.
Those reading of this latest episode are strongly encouraged to drive down Riverside Crescent to the boat ramp and enjoy the foreshore. This used to be public recreational space, ie parkland, right along the foreshore, and could still be if people support what these locals have got the courage to fight for.
