TWEED RIVER USERS MEMBERS LETTER · 2019. 10. 2. · tweed council wants to close sections of the...
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TWEED COUNCIL WANTS TO CLOSE SECTIONS OF THE RIVER TO TOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU TO READ TWEED RIVER ESTUARY COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (CMP) SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES BY TWEED RIVER USERS INCORPORATED EXECUTIVE BACKGROUND: The TSC Tweed River Estuary Coastal Management Program (CMP) 2020-2030 will provide recommendations for the future management of this important waterway and will follow NSW government guidelines for coastal management. The Tweed River Estuary is the tidal section of the river, a 35km stretch between the Bray Park Weir at Murwillumbah and the river mouth at Tweed Heads. Tweed River Users Inc have been involved in the process for several years. We are collective of residents and business operators whose objectives are to promote the interests of the community for safer boating and improved infrastructure and access to the Tweed River. WHERE ARE WE NOW: A community values report was tabled 2 years ago which was a survey of 850 people online and 400 over the phone into how they use the river and how they would like to see it used in the future. This formed some of the opinion in the CMP and now is your opportunity to ensure your voice is heard especially if you agree with the silent majority of river users who don’t want to see sections of the river closed to towing activities. Certain Tweed Shire Councillors have made it clear that their preference is to see the entire river closed to motorised activity and vessels. The community has until October 30 th , 2019 to make their submission and then it will go to Council and the NSW minister for approval and endorsement. The CMP is over 240 pages and here is a summary of main points you could use in your submission. SUBMISSIONS: Most of the CMP has valid, actionable objectives that should be endorsed and implemented but there are several points that should be removed. You are encouraged to keep your submission positive and offer an alternate to your objection. Item 1: ACTION E3 PAGE 77 of CMP Develop a policy on Motorised Water Recreation Businesses and amend the Tweed LEP 2014 via addition of a clause, to allow for definition and assessment of Motorised Water Recreation Businesses, with the intent of being consistent with the Environmental Values and Objectives of the Tweed River Estuary Coastal Management Program. Such a policy would include non-commercial organised events including multiple participants using motorised vessels. Using motor vehicles as an example, this action is the same as telling the Morris Minor Club of QLD they can't use a TSC park, picnic tables, toilets, bins and other council assets because they are a non-commercial, organized event with multiple participants. If there are “groups of motorised vessel operators” that are disturbing the local amenity or operating vessels in an unsafe or illegal manner, then there are existing ways of handling this via RMS/Waterways who manage safety and regulation on the river. Not only is this policy almost impossible to regulate and manage but it’s vague wording could lead to interpretations that groups of people who come to celebrate a birthday or similar event are prevented from doing so. We believe this action is an overreach by council and not in the spirit of what the Office and Environment and Heritage is asking councils to develop within CMP’s. TRU RESPONSE: This action/clause should be removed from the CMP as there is no net benefit to the management of the river or improvement to user amenity and safety if non-commercial groups where banned from using the river.
Transcript of TWEED RIVER USERS MEMBERS LETTER · 2019. 10. 2. · tweed council wants to close sections of the...
TWEEDCOUNCILWANTSTOCLOSESECTIONSOFTHERIVERTOTOWINGIMPORTANTINFORMATIONFORYOUTOREAD
TWEEDRIVERESTUARYCOASTALMANAGEMENTPROGRAMME(CMP)SUMMARYOFKEYISSUES
BYTWEEDRIVERUSERSINCORPORATEDEXECUTIVEBACKGROUND:TheTSCTweedRiverEstuaryCoastalManagementProgram(CMP)2020-2030willproviderecommendationsforthefuturemanagementofthisimportantwaterwayandwillfollowNSWgovernmentguidelinesforcoastalmanagement.TheTweedRiverEstuaryisthetidalsectionoftheriver,a35kmstretchbetweentheBrayParkWeiratMurwillumbahandtherivermouthatTweedHeads.TweedRiverUsersInchavebeeninvolvedintheprocessforseveralyears.WearecollectiveofresidentsandbusinessoperatorswhoseobjectivesaretopromotetheinterestsofthecommunityforsaferboatingandimprovedinfrastructureandaccesstotheTweedRiver.WHEREAREWENOW:Acommunityvaluesreportwastabled2yearsagowhichwasasurveyof850peopleonlineand400overthephoneintohowtheyusetheriverandhowtheywouldliketoseeitusedinthefuture.ThisformedsomeoftheopinionintheCMPandnowisyouropportunitytoensureyourvoiceisheardespeciallyifyouagreewiththesilentmajorityofriveruserswhodon’twanttoseesectionsoftheriverclosedtotowingactivities.CertainTweedShireCouncillorshavemadeitclearthattheirpreferenceistoseetheentireriverclosedtomotorisedactivityandvessels.ThecommunityhasuntilOctober30th,2019tomaketheirsubmissionandthenitwillgotoCouncilandtheNSWministerforapprovalandendorsement.TheCMPisover240pagesandhereisasummaryofmainpointsyoucoulduseinyoursubmission.SUBMISSIONS:MostoftheCMPhasvalid,actionableobjectivesthatshouldbeendorsedandimplementedbutthereareseveralpointsthatshouldberemoved.Youareencouragedtokeepyoursubmissionpositiveandofferanalternatetoyourobjection.Item1:ACTIONE3PAGE77ofCMPDevelopapolicyonMotorisedWaterRecreationBusinessesandamendtheTweedLEP2014viaadditionofaclause,toallowfordefinitionandassessmentofMotorisedWaterRecreationBusinesses,withtheintentofbeingconsistentwiththeEnvironmentalValuesandObjectivesoftheTweedRiverEstuaryCoastalManagementProgram.Suchapolicywouldincludenon-commercialorganisedeventsincludingmultipleparticipantsusingmotorisedvessels.
Usingmotorvehiclesasanexample,thisactionisthesameastellingtheMorrisMinorClubofQLDtheycan'tuseaTSCpark,picnictables,toilets,binsandothercouncilassetsbecausetheyareanon-commercial,organizedeventwithmultipleparticipants.Ifthereare“groupsofmotorisedvesseloperators”thataredisturbingthelocalamenityoroperatingvesselsinanunsafeorillegalmanner,thenthereareexistingwaysofhandlingthisviaRMS/Waterwayswhomanagesafetyandregulationontheriver.Notonlyisthispolicyalmostimpossibletoregulateandmanagebutit’svaguewordingcouldleadtointerpretationsthatgroupsofpeoplewhocometocelebrateabirthdayorsimilareventarepreventedfromdoingso.WebelievethisactionisanoverreachbycouncilandnotinthespiritofwhattheOfficeandEnvironmentandHeritageisaskingcouncilstodevelopwithinCMP’s.
TRURESPONSE:Thisaction/clauseshouldberemovedfromtheCMPasthereisnonetbenefittothemanagementoftheriverorimprovementtouseramenityandsafetyifnon-commercialgroupswherebannedfromusingtheriver.
Item2:
ACTIVEUSEZONEPAGE44ofCMPActiveUseZone:UpstreamendofStottsIslandtoCommercialRoadboatramp,Murwillumbah-Thisreachisacknowledgedasahigh-speedtowingareaasitisshelteredfromprevailingwindsandhasagenerallyflatwatersurfaceinmostconditions.However,thereachissubjecttosevereerosion.Significantbankprotectionworkswillberequiredtoensurethatcontinuedwakegeneratingboatuseinthisareaissustainable,howeverbankstabilisationworksmustbedesignedandconstructedinawaythatprotectsvisualamenityandmaximisesecologicalbenefits.Thecreationofspeciallocationsfortowingsports,inconjunctionwithprotectedbanks,wassupportedby70%ofresidentsinthecommunitysurvey.NovesselsrestrictionsaboveexistingRoadsandMaritimeServiceregulationsareadvocatedinthisarea.ThereareinaccuraciesinthedatareportedwithintheCMPwhichmayleadthereadertobelievetheTSCproposedactionissupportedbyalargenumberofrespondentswheninfactitisn’t.WhilstTRUsupportthebankstabilisationworksweareconcernedabouthowthedataisbeenreported.Aspertable3.2below,70%ofphonerespondentssupportedthecreationofspeciallocationswhereasonly53%onlinesupportedthecreationofthesezones.TRUIncisconcernedthatthetoneandwordingofthisquestioncouldbeinterpretedassupportforthecreationofspeciallocationsfortowingsportswhichcouldalsobeinterpretedastheclosureofsectionsoftherivertocreatecharacterzonesisequallysupported.TheCMPshouldbechangedtoreflectthetrueresultsofthesurvey.
TRURESPONSE:BankstabilisationworksaresupportedalongtheriverbutthereisnosupporttostoptowinginareasidentifiedintheCMP.Wewouldsupportincreasedsignage,educationandregulationoftheriverassuppliedbythosewhomanagetheriver,RMS/Waterwaysashistoryhasshownincreasedawarenessprogrammeshaveimprovedboatingsafetyanddriverunderstandingoftheenvironment.Forexample;awarenesscampaignsaroundlifevestsandsafetyequipmenthaveseenanimprovementinvesseloperator’sbehaviour.Increasedawarenesscampaignsofpreferredtowingareaswouldbemorebeneficiallongtermthanimposingablankedbanoncertainactivities,andnotothers.
Item3:
L6CONFLICTBETWEENRIVERUSERSPAGE157ofCMPTheCMPstatesthatithascompletedseveraldetailedstudiestoaddressknowledgegaps.TRUdoesn’tfeelthisisthecasewhenthereareanumberofunsupportedassumptionsthathavebeenmadeintheCMP.Forexample…..Conflictbetweenriverusers–primarilyalackofseparationbetweencompatibleuses(e.g.towingversusnatureappreciation/conservation;andpoweredcraftversusswimming/diving).Thisissueisexacerbatedthrougharestrictednumberofaccesspoints,highdemandatexistingfacilitiesandnon-compliancewithexistingmanagementandregulations.Asclearlydemonstratedinthegraphsbelow,conflictofusesontheriverisn’talargeissueforthecommunityandonly9%or114peoplefromthe1263surveyedfeltitwasabigissuewhenaskedtorespondtocurrentorotherissuesontheriver,thesameamountofpeoplewhoareconcernedaboutreducinglitteranddebrisontheriver.Whenrespondentswereaskeddirectlyaboutuserconflictontheriveritwassplitdownthemiddlecloseto50/50,hardlyamajorissuewhenyouconsidersiltingupoftheriverandareductioninfishnumberswereseentobemoreimportant.TRUbelievesthereisbiasfromTSCwhenitcomestothisperceivedissueofriverconflictandtowingactivitieseventhoughthereisnodatatosupportTSC’spremiseinadditontothesurveynumberslikeboatingregistrations,locationusageontheriver,rivervesselcapacityorfiledreportsofconflictswithRMS/Waterways.Ontheland,whenapotentialissueisidentified,detailedtrafficreportsforvehiclesarecommisionedandusedtoestablishactions.TRU’saredisapointedthesamedepthofdetailisnotbeinggatheredandusedtoestablishaneedsbasistoclosedownsectionsoftherivertotowing.Councilsowndatafromthecommunitysurveyshowsthatonly5%or63respondantsfromthe1263inthesurveywanttoseeabanorlimitonwaterskiingorwakeboardingandTRUaremystifiedwhytheywanttoclosedownsectionsoftheriver,withtheassociatedtowingrestrictions,whenitisclearlynotsupportedbysurveyrespondantsorTweedShireratepayers.TheCMPaddressesuserconflictunderKEYISSUESandsummarisesitbysaying:• ThemainhistoricaluserconflictswerebetweenskiersandrowersintheCondongtoMurwillumbahstretch.Butmeasureshadbeentakentomanagetheseissuessothattheyarenolongeraproblem(seecurrentandpastmanagementbelow).Giventhereisaverylowratingforuserconflictontheriver(refertablesbelow)TRUisunsurewhythishasbeenhighlightedasapriorityforcounciltoaddressintheCMPgiventherearesomanymoreactionableissuesthatcommunityhasaskedforittoaddress.TRURESPONSE:TheCMPcontainsabiasofuserconflictasanissueontheriver.TRUbelievesthisisnotthecasefromourownpersonalexperiencesnorisitreflectiveinthecommunitysurvey.Itseemsthatthisperceptionofuserconflictisoneofthemotivatorsincreatingcharacterzonesandseekingthebanontowingactivities.WhilstTRUrespectthatsomepeopledoexperienceconflictandthatweshouldnotignorethoseconcerns,giventhelownumberofpeoplewhoidentifywiththisissueandthatthereisnoevidencefromRMS/MaritimetobackupthisdataorshowthereareyearonyearupwardtrendsthenreferencestothisasaKEYISSUEshouldbe‘toneddown’withintheCMP.TRUbelieveseducationandincreasedregulationoftheperceivedhotspotsand/orboatrampflyerdropsonaregularbasisarebetterlong-termsolutionstoreducinguserconflictontheriver.
How c.oncerned are you about the following aspec.ts of the river?
(r,"405)
■ Nol at all COIIC=t:d • Not vr,v conccmcd ■ Vitt)' conc rned
Olfflcu l tv accessing the river for recreational boating
The spread of rock walls for eros ion protection
Oifflcultv accessing public foreshore on the river bank
Confll,u between passive and motorised recreational uses
Lack of foreshor vegetation
Siltation and/or s;ind bulld up
Poor water quality
Bank erosion
Re duct io n in fish numbers or species
Table 3.1: Levels of concern, CATI vs. online Low/no concern High concern
CATI Online CATI Online
Siltation and/or sand build up 43% 55% 57% 45% Bank erosion 27% 37% 73% 63% Reduction in fish numbers or species 25% 38% 75% 62% Poor water quality 44% 49% 56% 51%
Lack offoreshore vegetation 53% 50% 47% 50%
Difficulty accessing the river for recreational boating 77% 63% 23% 37%
Conflicts between passive and motorised recreational uses 49% 45% 51% 55%
The spread of rock walls for erosion protection 65% 61% 35% 39%
Difficulty accessing public foreshore on the river bank 69% 58% 31% 42%
Based on your ob servation s, do you beli eve the re ar e an y ot her curr ent issu es or p r obl e m s w i th t he Tw eed Ri v er?
(n=1263, CATI+ online, multiple onswer:; ollowed}
Improved occe:;s-focilities/mointenance
Limiting riller/bank erosion
Resollllng con/I/ct between users
Reducing litter/debris/pollution entering the river
Qvercommerciolisotion/growth
Riller speed limit/speedboats
Bonning or limiting jetskling
Banning or limiting water skiing/wake boording
Good as it is/no issue5
Better enforcement of rules
Flooding effect5 ond mitigation £. Overuse of river by Queens/anders '.Wl\:.
Edurotion/eco conservation :a;:;.2EZ
NB • 4"4
of rtS pondents
Problem with siltation --
Weed/pest control
Other
f'rs pondtd •no· or chose not to an.swrr
2" 4% 6" 10" 12% 14" 16,
46 " 31"
35 " 34"
19 " 23"
14 " 29"
47"
Item4:
E1CREATIONOFCHARACTERZONESPAGE54ofCMP
Recommend to NSW Roads and Maritime Services that the character zones recommended in the Recreational Use Strategy be reflected in the review of the Tweed Estuary Boating Plan 2010, in particular, the inclusion of the following restrictions: • create a no-tow zone within the “Conservation Zone “ (Stotts Island) to prevent wake damaging sensitive environmental habitat, whilst increasing the areas suitability for tranquil and passive recreational uses; and • extending the no ski/tow zone within the “Restoration Zone” (Bray Park Weir to Commercial Road Boat Ramp) to reduce the risk of further wake induced bank erosion, and increase the likelihood of existing erosion being able to be stabilised with bioengineered works, whilst increasing the areas suitability for tranquil and passive recreational uses.
TRUdonotsupportthecreationofcharacterzonesintheCMPasshownasE1onpage54.
ThecreationofCharacterZoneswillnotimproveboatingsafetyontheriverforvesselsthattow,infactitwillcreatemoreturningpointsforvesselspotentiallyputtingtheminconflictwithothervesselsandotherriverusersasboatshavetoturnawayfromwhatwouldbeanogozonefortowingactivitiesbutathruzoneforvesselsnottowing.
TheCMPandotherTSCdocumentsincorrectlycategorisestowingactivitiesasa‘riskoffurtherwakeinducedbankerosion’wheninfactavesseltowingsomeoneonatube,kneeboard,ski,wakeskateandevenawakeboardcanproduceless‘waveforce’thanacommercialtouristvesselorfishingboat.TRUhasdemostratedthisinpreviouspresentationsandwearehappytodemonstratethiswithalivedemonstration.
Thereisnosupportforthecreationofcharacterzonesinthecommunitysurveyandthemajorityofrespondentssupporttowingactivities.
NationalParksandWildlifewhomanagetheStottsIslandreservehavepublishedthefollowingmanagementplanfortheIsland:
SoilandHydrology:Thebanksoftheislandareerodingontheupstreamsidewhilstdepositionisoccurringonthedownstreamside.SiltationanderosionhaveprobablyincreasedfollowingsettlementandlandclearingintheTweedValley.
DesiredOutcomes:Naturalerosionandhydrologicalprocessesareallowedcontinue.ThereisnodisturbancetofringingnativevegetationonStottsisland.
TRURESPONSE:ThereisnocommunitysupportforthecreationoftheproposedCharacterZonesandTRUdon’tbelievethecreationofacharacterzonewillimproveboatingsafetyasitwillconcentratetowingactivitiesinasmallersectionoftheriver.Bankerosionisnotprimarilycausedbytowingactivitieswhichisonlyasmallcontributingfactorwhencomparedtotidal,wind,animalandfloodmovements.Theproposedzonewillnot“increasetheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses”whenothermotorvesselswillstillhaveaccesstothisareawhichcanstillcreateasbigorbiggerwakeforcethanavesselthatistowing.TRUbelieveseducationandincreasedregulationoftheperceivedhotspotsand/orboatrampflyerdropsonaregularbasisarebetterlong-termsolutionstoreducingtowingactivitiesintheStottsIslandareaIFitisprovedthatthereisasafetyissueforvesseloperators.
Item5:
E1CREATIONOFRESTORATIONZONEPAGE54
Extendingthenoski/towzonewithinthe“RestorationZone”(BrayParkWeirtoCommercialRoadBoatRamp)toreducetheriskoffurtherwakeinducedbankerosion,andincreasethelikelihoodofexistingerosionbeingabletobestabilisedwithbioengineeredworks,whilstincreasingtheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses.(refertablebelow)TRUdonotsupporttheextensionofanotowzoneintheCommercialRdBoatRampareaasshownintheCMPThisactionwillnotimproveriversafetyorreducetheriskoffurtherbankerosionasprovedbyvariousreportsthatshowtidal,wind,animalandfloodmovementsarethemajorcontributortobankerosion.
TRUbelievesthattheclosureofthisareaasanotowzonewillpushtowingactivitydowntherivertowardstheMurwillumbahRowingClubareacreatinganincreaseinvesselandusertrafficwhentheidealmanagementofuseractivityistospreaditoutacrosstheriverandnotconcentrateactivitiesinacertainarea.Weareofthebeliefthatthereisnonetgainbyclosingthisareaandwillcreatesafetyissueforallriverusers.WeendorseextendingthetowableareaupstreamfromtheDunbibleCreektoBrayPark.
TRURESPONSE:Thereisnocommunitysupportforthecreationoftheproposedrestorationzone.TRUdoesnotbelievethecreationofarestorationzonewillimproveboatingsafety,infactitwillconcentratetowingactivitiesdownstreaminfrontoftheRowingClubprecinct.Bankerosionisnotprimarilycausedbytowingactivitiesandisasmallcontributingfactorwhencomparedtotidal,wind,animalandfloodmovements.Theproposedrestorationzonewillnot“increasetheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses”whenothermotorvesselswillstillhaveaccesstothisareawhichcanstillcreateasbigorbiggerwakeforcethanavesselthatistowing.
CLOSINGCOMMENTS:
Inclosing,TRUbelievesthatpublishingtheCMPpriortoanupdatedTweedEstuaryBoatingPlanfromtherelevantNSWagencyisprematureasTSCarenotthegoverningauthorityoftheriverwhenitcomestosafetyandregulation.FurthermoreTRUisatalosstounderstandwhyTSCcontinuestowasteratepayersmoneyinproducingadocumentandrecommendationsthatarenotnecessarilyfoundedonfactorsupportedbytheratepayersofTweedShireandultimatelymaynotbesupportedbytheNSWauthoritygoverningtheestuary.Finally,TRUbelievethatsafetyforallriverusersshouldbethenumberonepriority.Inthisregardthecurrentmanagementandoperationoftheriverhasworkedwellwithveryfewreportedaccidentsovertheyears.TRU’sgreatestfearsfromTSC’sexhibitedCMParearoundtheproposedcreationofthe“CharacterZones”potentiallyleadingtoconfusionamongstwatercraftusersthusincreasingthepotentialforconflictsandaccidents.
