Moonee Creek, Coffs Creek, Boambee/Newports Creek, Jordans Creek and Pine Bush Creek Estuaries are significant coastal features and the City of Coffs Harbour is now seeking local input to help develop specific measures aimed at preserving and enhancing these waterways.
The City is preparing a Draft Central Coffs Harbour Estuaries Coastal Management Program and is currently in the process of looking at actions to help tackle bank erosion, habitat degradation, water quality, catchment and sediment inflows, as well as improving recreational opportunities.
"The beauty of our local coastline is a major part of what draws people to our region," said Ian Fitzgibbon, Acting City of Coffs Harbour Director City Planning and Communities. "By putting well-researched strategies in place to protect important coastal features, we're not only safeguarding our environment, but also helping maintain the attractions that bring people here to live or visit.
"The key to ensuring the continued health and protection of these estuaries is to achieve a balance between the needs of the community and the environment – and that's what the final Management Program will seek to do.
"We've developed some preliminary management options based on the latest science – and previous input from residents who value or live near these estuaries – and now we're keen to hear what people think about these proposals."
There are several ways that people can take a look, get involved and provide their input and opinion on the preliminary options.
- By completing an online survey on the City of Coffs Harbour Have Your Say website. The survey will be open from 21 August to 17 September 2023.
- Temporary signs at key locations in and around the Central Coffs estuaries will also promote the survey and provide a QR code link to the survey from mobile devices.
- By attending a community drop-in session on 29 August 2023 any time between 3pm-7pm at the Cavanbah Centre, 190 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour.
All community feedback will be used to help prioritise and rank the most effective, viable, and supported options from the list. The results will help inform the actions to be included in the final Draft Coastal Management Program (CMP).
The implementation of any agreed actions will still be subject to available resources.
Residents will have another opportunity to provide feedback on management actions when the final Draft CMP goes out for public exhibition in 2024.
For more information on the project, the community drop-in session, and to access the online survey, please visit the Central Coffs Estuaries Coastal Management Program page on the City's Have Your Say website.
