Financial Responsibilty For Coastal Protection

I believe that the cost should be met jointly between local, State & Federal Governments. As a tax payer and rate payer we are all entitled to have our coastline protected. If there is a protective option available then all 3 levels of Govt should do everything in their power to protect the land for our generation and future generations.

I totally agree with you mate

Lake Cathie is of benefit to the entire community and I'm suprised to you don't see it so. Sure the Illaroo and Chepana residents that won't be homeless get an obvious benefit but surely no-one would begrudge them that? Would you really want to see people in ur community (assuming you live somewhere close by) lose there homes and lively hoods. I Rent in Port and have a mortgage on a property in lorne and if that was taken from me I'd be destroyed!!! I love Cathie! Save the beach and the homes I say!!!!!

How would a groyne destroy the beach? is town beach destroyed? is Bonny hills destoyed by Middle rock? is washhouse destoyed by pilot beach? People want the groyne to protect the beach. I also think it would provide us with a lake again. I know you know how much a functioning lake means to the area financially!

So if your name really is 'save the beach' I suggest you start pushing hard for one of the options the council has outlines as a protective measure. Otherwise you may get your wish and not have a beach at all!

Groyne + Revetment + Nourishment = Good beach, Good Lake, No homes lost, no lives destoyed, increased tourism, increased business, should I keep going?

No one is denying that coastal erosion is a natural process. Sand comes and sand goes. The beach level goes up and down, but the appallingly neglected storm water drains that have ripped through the dune and caused nodes of collapse that have spread and caused the massive retreat of the foredune ARE THE FAULT OF THE COUNCIL!!! We were promised funding was through to repair the storm water drain behind 38 Chepana Street in 2003. This has only been done this year. In that 5 year period, the amount of dunal loss directly attributable to the collapsing drain would be in the vicinity of at least 8 to 10 metres. This is only one drain of multiple along the beach all of these are tearing the dune apart. In particular the one on the corner of Illaroo and Kywong St. Lets stop arguing about sea level rises, global warming and coastal erosion and get the message out that council has neglected the drains along this beach and THAT is what has destroyed the dune. In my opinion the drains should be removed. (Correct me if I'm wrong but there is no storm water drains onto LIghthouse or Town Beach is there?)

Are you kidding us. You must be kidding us. So does that mean if the residents of Illaroo Road fix and pay for the cost of protecting the road they then have the right to charge a levy to all that use that section of road. After all they saved it. Does that also mean that the residents of Illaroo Road then have the right to charge people to use that section of the coastline. After all they saved and protected it. Cant actually see how the community would benefit from the whole area washing into the sea. Cant see how tourism would be enhanced, cant see how the local pie shop, newspaper shop, pizza shop, takeaway shop, pub, video shop would all benefit if the whole area was washed into the ocean. How about the local plumbers, carpenters, cleaners, and electricians would they all benefit if the whole area was washed into the ocean. You seriously must be kidding us. There will be not one benefit to Lake Cathie if this whole area was allowed to wash into ocean.

It is now time that the 3 tiers of Govt step up and devise a strategy on how they are going to fix these problems. The do nothing option is not an option

Why do you make the assumption, in all of these forum sites that these remedy proposals will create a wasteland?. Revetment with beach nourishment will add to the beach & you will benefit from this with more beach not less.

I have personally witnessed revetment at Soldiers Point in Port Stephens that is 15 years old & by using pigface/native dune grasses on the nourished dune it has maintained & stabilised an eroded area very successfully.

Your portrayal of devastation & a wasteland is presumptive or fear mongering at worst & your lack of compassion for the affected residents is sad.

All the community benefits from Illaroo Road being maintained not only the Illaroo residents, we all drive, walk & have access to the Lake from Illaroo Road + it will give the community confidence that their council will not just be walking away from their responsibilities.

This predicament would have been reduced greatly if PMHC had maintained their stormwater drains properly over the last 30years, the increased erosion from this negligence has allowed the dune to be separated into sections.

To ease your mind as a resident of Chepana Street (40yrs+), i & the Illaroo Rd residents have been paying some of the highest rates in the PMHC area, so why don't you just think of it as if we have already been contributing for these works to be done. Lets enjoy the beach & the road as a community.

Dear "save the beach". I've already debunked this "natural process" garbage under the previous heading of which you may like to avail yourself. Maybe you could talk to a few more people in Cathie before reaching such an ill informed conclusion about what the majority of the community think.

Maybe you could use what little imagination you probably have to visualise Bitumen falling into the ocean. Of course you will pay for the demolition of our homes seing as you will be reaping the benefits of not having a revetment won't you ?

Or maybe you save the expense by just leaving the bitumen hanging over what's left of the dunes. That would be a much nicer wasteland wouldn't it ?

Well if they have to bear the cost, then maybe they should also get money from parking once thousands of people want to come and use the lake and beach which they fought so hard to save, for swimming, fishing and BBQ's.

I agree, all tiers of government have had their HEADS IN THE SAND, and should e made to pay..

This is an easily missed point but really hits home. 'If it was anyone else's home about to be lost, what would they want to be done?'

Many of you may think me cynical from many of my comments. And I do understand that it must be horrible for the people in the firing line. But it is a fact that erosion is a problem in the spot you are living. I am not an expert, but my opinion is that the proposed measures are nothing more than temporary. Some might think that you shove a groin and wall in and all your problems are solved. It very much depends on the local geology, and sand movement in particular. The council is going to have to take into account the ongoing costs. And they may just do what you want to make the issue go away for a few years (when they wont be there anymore). But in the long run it is a temporary measure that will buy you some time. But you also have to take into account that the council is broke from all the reports Ive heard.