A group in favour of the proposed Ocean Shores Boardwalk, that would connect New Brighton to Ocean Shores Shopping Centre in its first stage and run through three nature reserves, say there is strong community support for the idea.
The group includes locals Kim Dowling from the Ocean Shores Tavern; Justine Le; David Michie (who ran on Councillor Jack Dod’s ticket); and Labor Councillor Janet Swain, say they have collected over 1,100 signatures in support of the idea.
They say they are committed to minimal environmental impact and are actively seeking design and planning advice to ensure the structure works in harmony with its surroundings.
The proposed boardwalk would run through the Marshalls Creek nature reserve; the Brunswick Heads nature reserve and around the edges of Cape Byron marine park – much of which is a designated Habitat Protection Zone (HPZ).
This proposal has previously been opposed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who have indicated ‘that the boardwalk was “inconsistent” with its plans, and would impact threatened ecological communities and threatened species’.
NPWS are aware of the current proposal.
The high conservation value of the nature reserves includes numerous flora, fauna, and ecological communities as well as the white-bellied sea eagle (vulnerable), the beach stone curlew (critically endangered), the mangrove honeyeater (threatened), and the black-necked stork (endangered).
The boardwalk is also opposed by three local community associations: the South Golden Beach Community Association; the New Brighton Community Association; and Conservation Of North Ocean Shores (CONOS).
Footpaths and roads
While the pro-boardwalk group say that the project won’t compete with footpath or road funding, CONOS representative Richard Whitling told The Echo that, ‘we don’t want the Council distracted from our real needs in the north of the Shire. There is a far greater need for footpaths and road repair than there is for this boardwalk proposal.’
‘The boardwalk supporters continually fail to outline their full plans and instead focus on a part of their plans which is to create a diversion around just of one of the many hills in Ocean Shores.
‘They arrogantly assume that the project can proceed through the nature reserves even though the NPWS have told Council that they do not support the project.
‘The cost and maintenance would come out of the NPWS budget at the expense of NPWS’s other commitments.’
Pro-boardwalk group member David Michie said that, ‘boardwalks don’t destroy nature – they protect it. They offer a solution to the very real issue we face in Ocean Shores: big hills, no footpaths, and a dangerous lack of safe pedestrian and cycling access.’
The pro-boardwalk group have also said that the boardwalk would also ‘act as a vital connector to the soon-to-expand Northern Rivers Rail Trail’.
Mr Whitling responded to this saying, ‘It seems clear that the real purpose of the project is to funnel rail-trail enthusiasts through our quiet coastal villages north of the Brunswick River.
‘We love our laid-back lifestyles and our quiet villages. We’ve seen what’s happening to the previously quiet coastal village of Brunswick Heads – that’s not our vision.
‘We have collected half their amount of signatures opposing the project in just one month, while they have been conducting an extensive, expensive PR program for over 18 months.’
Both supporting and opposing groups can be located online to find out more about their respective positions.
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