I agree with Catherine Lane (Letters October 22) that Ocean Shores has been a forgotten corner of Byron Shire. A boardwalk connecting residential areas to the beach would have been a brilliant drawcard to Ocean Shores as well as benefiting the local community, which currently is very much car-dependent.
Residents concerned about the environmental impact of a boardwalk should check out the East Ballina-to-Lennox coastal walk. The Ballina coast boardwalk tracks through culturally significant land at Black Head and the pristine swamp at Sharps Beach. Walk along it and you’ll find it’s well used by pedestrians and cyclists alike.
You won’t find any rubbish. Indeed, as the boardwalk has made it more accessible, groups such as Landcare and Ballina Council can easily access areas that need restoration and cleansing of weeds and rubbish.
Compare that to Marshalls Creek. The only access is by kayak so it’s full of rubbish washed down the creeks or dumped out of sight. It’s also full of weeds.
I would argue that ‘long-term environmental protection’ is a reason to build a boardwalk in Ocean Shores. Let’s hope a future Byron Council reconsiders.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
