The Tweed Shire Council has announced that they have adopted the Plan of Management for the Jack Evans Boat Harbour precinct.
The plan sets out the future planning and management of the precinct, and ensures the area is protected and used as the recreational and tourist centrepiece for Tweed Heads.
The draft plan was placed on public exhibition, which closed on Tuesday 8 December 2020 and was adopted by Council at its 18 February 2021 meeting.
Mayor welcomes the plan’s adoption
Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry welcomed the plan’s adoption and thanked residents for their input. ‘I would like to extend my thanks to everyone that provided their feedback as part of the consultation. Their contributions will make certain the priorities to enhance, protect and manage the precinct are delivered and that the plan meets the needs of the Tweed community now and into the future.
Ms Cherry said the plan ensures that the Jack Evans Boat Harbour precinct is recognised as a high quality, accessible regional facility for passive recreation.
The Plan of Management covers several parklands in the area, the northern and western sections of the waterway and some sections of Ebenezer Park.
Prime community land can serve as a focal point
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said approval and adoption of the Plan of Management will ensure 11 hectares of prime community land at the Jack Evans Boat Harbour precinct can serve as a recreational and tourism focal point for Tweed Heads.
‘The NSW Government has invested over $193,000 from its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund into this urban parkland precinct over the past two years to support boardwalk, cycleway, seating and shade improvements as well as erosion protection work, so it’s great to see the precinct plan coming to fruition,’ said Mr Provest said.
The plan is consistent with the Tweed Shire Open Space Strategy and Council’s policy for Commercial Recreation Activities on Public Open Space, and has now been approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
An important document that ensures appropriate management
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the Plan of Management is an important document as it ensures appropriate management and use of valued community land, so that residents and visitors to the Tweed region can continue to enjoy this community space for generations to come.
To view the Jack Evans Boat Harbour Plan of Management, a companion guide and for more information, visit www.yoursaytweed.com.au/JEBH.
The plan was informed by community consultations undertaken in 2018 and 2020, which included the What’s Your Vision for Jack Evans Boat Harbour Survey.
Pitty the water park never got off the ground because of selfish residents in nearby towers
I am more concerned over the quality of the water in JEBH. I don’t see any regular water testing results!
This is a prime spot for people who don’t want surf to bathe safely, however the water often looks like brown soup as city run off and the Tweed river flow into the harbour. I have sighted large logs and branches in the water along with the occasional dead animal! Surely something must be done to clean up the water, or at least advise when the water quality is not acceptable. The council seems to be very quiet on this extremely important point and a major tourist hot spot.