Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development are concerned about the proposed route of a new 4WD access route to Airforce Beach, just north of Evans Head.
Dr Richard Gates says the proposed route contains a major drainage canal which brings water from the State Heritage Listed Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome from waterways identified as having the endangered pygmy perch Nannoperca oxleyana.
This canal runs into the hind dune paperbark wetland (swamp) which drains to the north into the sewerage treatment plant contaminated Salty Lagoon in Broadwater National Park.
Major engineering work and environmental study will be needed for this proposed route. The National Park is immediately adjacent to the Reserves and National Parks Dr Gates says National Parks have expressed their opposition to the 4WD track, along with Bandjalang Native Title holders.
Dr Gates says the proposed route would also have a detrimental effect on immediate neighbours Camp Koinonia (aka Coastal & Co), along with impacts on the amenity of local residents, including noise and safety risk.
Personal connection
Dr Gates told the Echo he also has a personal connection with this location.
‘It is no little irony that the private land with the residence was built by my mother in 1960 following the death of my father. It was to be their dream home. It was sold in the early sixties when my mother, a Canadian War Bride, moved back to Canada. My father was a WWII pilot who trained in Canada and was badly injured during the War.’
Richmond Valley Council discussed the plan to build the 4WD track immediately north of the residental area in their latest meeting.
Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development will be referring this proposal to the appropriate water authority as the organisation believes the gazetted reserves are the subject of the Water Management Act 2000.
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