Hardys Bay Residents Group

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held at 7.30 pm Tuesday 29 October 2006 at Hardys Bay Community Church Hall.

President Adrian Williams welcomed new members to the meeting. 

Apologies:   Allan Wilson, Jim Macfadyen, Allan & Fiona Lambell, Robert Hill, Tom Harrison, Graham & Jean Dalzell, John & Treveen Brown and Pam Mainsbridge.

Financial Report:  Total income last period: $1,081.16. Outgoings: $485.00.  Of this amount $100.00 for hall and balance for printing and signs

Memberships and Advertising:

• $425.00 of income from memberships and newsletter donations and balance from website ads.  Have two companies paid for 12 months website and two more commitments.
• The newsletter is fully self funded. 
• Paid memberships now 120.

Website: cut-off date will be the end of the month and it will be updated the first week on the next month, apart from any urgent updates.

• Now have a Trades and Professions List on the website. 

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:   Minutes accepted as true and accurate record. Moved by Kel Gulliver and seconded Graeme Smith.

Business Arising from Minutes – Updates

Traffic Issues:  Surveys currently being done.  Consultants to be appointed within the next five or so weeks.  Keeping in regular contact with Council. Short term solutions being sought.

mosquitoes: Council have put it in the State Govt. basket as there is a lot of state land, National Parks and Wildlife and other departments involved and also no money available.

• Council know it should be done.
• Grant McBride’s office is arranging a meeting with NP&W.
• Following Mike Muller’s visit to Gosford Council, NP&W are now communicating direct with the experts Mike and Cameron Webb.

Sedimentation: Presentation by Graeme Smith.   A foundation member of HBRG and Council’s Flood Plain Management Committee.  Graeme is the most knowledgeable person in the area having spent over 5 years on this issue.  Bill Egan also has a wealth of knowledge on problems in the bay. 

• A full report will be available shortly on the website of this presentation.
• Main concerns are sedimentation, flooding, pollution and erosion into the bay.
• Mudflat Creek - stormwater outlet.  Delta formed – no protection in drains. Proliferation of mangroves and blue metal at least 1 metre down.  20 years ago you could row a boat under the bridge. 
• Frustrating when the evidence is there of thousands of tons of sediment gone into the bay over the years.  1988 flood in Fraser Rd, Mudflat Creek and Fletchers Glen.   Council say there is no change to the bay in 100 years.
• Silt traps have only just been installed in Scenic Rd and Wards Hill Rd drainage works.  Maintaining the emptying of these traps by Council is another issue.
• Noble Road wharfs siding – lots of metal.  As sediment settles the mangroves thrive.
• Stanley St drains are stagnant and a health hazard.  This is not included in any study and is an issue to push for.
• RSL creek was deep – now badly polluted and built up.  Bottom drain is now totally covered up.  It’s time to consider where mangroves should/shouldn’t be.  This area is stinking muck and a mud trap.
• Pretty Beach boat ramp is another wrong place for mangroves.  Silt traps coming out and mangroves in the way – can’t remove because they are protected.  Disappointed it wasn’t dredged and bunker around to prevent more silting.
• Araluen Drive was all sandy beaches – now mud from RSL creek.
• Pretty Beach baths – can’t swim at low tide.
• Blyth St & Araluen Drive and in front of shops gravel in the bay.

Causes: High rain – land clearing – unsealed roads – earth drains – not enough sediment traps – Government have a ‘no dredge policy’ – mangroves (protected) build up.

• Enormous task to save the bay in the long term.  Obviously Council not interested in health.

Erosion: Need better drains.  Cycle of sedimentation – flooding – erosion.

• Taken 7 years to get funding for half of Wards Hill Rd work and Mudflat Creek will be completed soon.
• Lot of lobbying to get projects up.
• In our bay the sediment stays in the bay. Never stabilise the edge of roads.  Silt builds up and mangroves start.  Pretty Beach also needs TLC – walkway.

Flooding: Given HBRG’s Executive Committee recommendations to Consultants for creek stabilisation.

Progress: Flood Plain Risk Management Committee

• Mudflat Creek and Turo Creek – flood study and plan finished.
• Brisbane Water Flood Study & Plan.
• Killcare, Pretty Beach Drainage Study Plan – work in progress
• Quick fixes??? Limited to a risk to life/health issues.
• Brisbane Water Estuary Management Committee – Graeme not involved in.
• Consultants said still no deep core sampling taken.  Council were definitely to do the tests but didn’t.
• Brisbane Water Estuary Processes Study & Plan to conclude in Dec 06.
• Funding indefinite time frame for any of the projects.

Recommendations:

• Reduce size of sediment deltas
• Replenish & Rehabilitate eroded bay foreshores
• Install sediment traps on all high flow rate drains
• Deepen Mudflat Creek
• Limit mangrove growth
• Remove disused oyster lease rubbish (better flow around the bay)
• Work with Government departments

Motion: To support Graeme’s recommendations to Council as the endorsed representative of HBRG.  Proposed Brent Walker, seconded Paul Robinson.  Carried.

Adrian – HBRG have good relations with senior people in Council.  We need to go with recommendations on how to solve the problems.

• Whilst HBRG is non-political, state elections are next March.  Our area is now Terrigal with Chris Hartcher elected last time by 273 votes.
• Councillors – two live in our area. Macfadyen and Latella.  Go through the issues and we have had terrific support from Macfadyen on the pump out and mosquito issues and also traffic.  Balance between lifestyle and development, and as a group of 120 members it adds more weight.
• Other local groups working against everything Graeme puts up.
• Oyster clean up – Terry & Kay instigated and with HBRG through Grant McBride’s office a meeting was arranged with Minister Debus.  Hopefully the grant will come through for stage 2 clean-up.  The proof is there that removing the rubbish it returns to its natural state.

Correspondence:

• Letter to Council re mosquitoes.
• Letter to Council re Printing Grant.
• Invitation to Pretty Beach Ramp Opening 5pm Fri 03 November.
• Mosquito Emails from Councillors and a few others against it.

New/General Business:

Newsletter:  Next issue will be out 12 December.  Welcome all contributions and comments.

Boat Watch: There is an existing Brisbane Water Marine Watch for Hardys Bay and Pretty Beach/Wagstaffe areas.  $10.00 to join and $5.00 per year.  Keep a watch on boats and have contacts with Coastal Patrol, Waterways and Killcare Marine.

• Let Adrian know if interested or their website is www.marinewatch.info

Phone Tree for Fire Brigade:  As previously suggested by Rolf Poole.  One person has five numbers.  Kel Gulliver is currently setting this up.

Dog Bags:   Very successful and in first three months almost out of bags.

• Thanks to Janet Egan who has been replenishing the bags. 
• A few more keys available if anyone would like to help out?

Jeremy’s Local Video – Part 2: Will be shown at Wagstaffe Hall on Sat 11 November at 7.30 pm.  $12.00 entry.

RSL: John McGregor to talk with Adrian about support for the club.

Next meeting: 7.30 pm Tuesday 12 December, 2006 at Hardys Bay Church Hall.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.10 pm.