Applause erupted in the council chamber gallery on Thursday as councillors unanimously voted to request amendments to the Ferry Reserve Plan of Management (PoM) by Reflections Holiday Parks.
Councillors are asking for Reflections’ PoM to be amended so ‘the northern boundary… of the Ferry Reserve Holiday Park aligns with the northern side of the existing road formation.’
Additionally, Council are asking the NSW government-run corporation that ‘all grassed foreshore area, as a consequence of this change, is left as a foreshore parkland for shared use with members of the general public and the park’s patrons’.
Former disgraced Labor MP Tony Kelly handed the Council-managed Brunswick Heads parks to the NSW government-run corporation over a decade ago.
And ever since, the corporation – under different names and CEOs – has been at loggerheads with Council and staunch residents, who have repeatedly opposed the subsuming of remaining public lands under Council’s management for commercial activities. If the amendments are accepted, it may draw the issues to a close.
Resident Patricia Warren says, ‘The manner in which the motion, put forward by Crs Coorey and Ndiaye, was responded to by all councillors showed respect for the community’s long-held position on this issue and they deserve to be acknowledged and congratulated on their resolution.’
Council’s submission for the PoM ‘Notes lack of compliance at Ferry Reserve regarding the regular incursion into foreshore areas by park visitors,’ and, ‘Notes the degradation of the foreshore area and the loss of mature trees and vegetation on Ferry Reserve foreshore.’
Brunswick heads is spoilt for foreshore access. We have beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, Harry’s hill, North Arm & South Arm & many other areas, there’s plenty of public access already. Let the caravan parks use the small amount of foreshore access they have to the paying guests. Everyone can be accommodating… tourist being $ to the community.
Ferry Holiday Park will be using the foreshore as recreational space for paying guests with an appropriate buffer zone and public walkway for all to share. The foreshore strip may even function as a wildlife corridor and be rehabilitated as was intended post hwy upgrade.
The seven holiday parks in Byron Shire make a significant contribution to Crown Lands coffers yet our public parklands have never be so neglected, degraded and worn out. Perhaps loved to death. We’ve been very accommodating – tourists have taken over the accommodation sector, squeezing out permanent residents.
We think it’s time Crown Lands showed some respect for our environmental and social values and protected those Coastal Cypress Pine trees and WW1 memorial in Terrace Reserve and maintained the integrity of Ferry foreshore for the entire community not just park patrons.