Middle Creek (Pearl Beach) -
FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT STUDY AND PLAN

Council has received financial assistance from the State Government for the preparation of a Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for Middle Creek, Pearl Beach.

The NSW State Government's Floodplain Risk Management Process involves three (3) stages. Firstly, a Flood Study is undertaken to define the nature and extent of the flood problem (completed 2001). Secondly, a Floodplain Risk Management Study is prepared to identify and compare various risk management options available to reduce flood risks to life and damage to property. Thirdly, a Floodplain Risk Management Plan is prepared to provide input into development controls and adopt options for controlling potential flood risks and damages.

Patterson Britton & Partners (Consulting Engineers) were engaged by Council to complete the second and third (final) stages of the management process.

Notice is hereby given that the Draft Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan are now completed and will be placed on public exhibition at the following locations from Friday 18 July 2008 until Monday 18 August 2008/

• Erina Library, Erina Fair.
• Woy Woy Library, Blackwall Road, Woy Woy.
• Kincumber Library, Bungoona Road, Kincumber.
• Gosford City Council, Ground Floor, Administration Building, 49 Mann Street, Gosford.
• Gosford City Council web site - www.gosford.nsw.gov.au
• Community Hall, Diamond Road, Pearl Beach.
• Pearl Beach General Store & Café, 1 Pearl Parade, Pearl Beach.

Council seeks to ensure that the management plan has the support of the community and so you are invited to make any comments prior to it being finalised.

Your comments, in the form of a written submission, should be addressed to;

General Manager
Gosford City Council
Attention: Advisor Flooding and Drainage Planning
PO Box 21
GOSFORD NSW 2250

The Pearl Beach member representing the community during the course of the studies is as follows:
    Mr George State
    Pearl Beach Progress Association, Inc.
    Ph. 43442327

ThIs member has been attending regular Floodplain Risk Management Committee meetings involving these studies and hence can be a great source of assistance in preparing your submission. You may also allow the above member to represent your views in a joint submission.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact your local representative or the following Council staff member:
Gary Poll, Flooding & Drainage Planning Officer by phone 02 4325 8946 or fax 4323 2528 or email at gary.poll@gosford.nsw.gov.au

All submissions on the plan will be received up until 5pm Monday 18 August 2008.

Once all submissions have been received and assessed, a report will be prepared for Council's consideration in adopting a Floodplain Risk Management Plan for Middle Creek.

FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT STUDY AND PLAN AVAILABLE AT COUNTER FOR VIEWING.

(16th July, 2008)

Patonga Caravan and Camping Area - Development

Draft Plan of Management - Patonga caravan and camping area

Community comments are invited on the draft plan of management for the Patonga caravan and camping area which is currently on public exhibition.

The draft plan aims to guide the future management of this important area and looks at improvements to recreational facilities, park amenities, beach access, parking, security and surveillance.

The draft plan can be downloaded below.
  Draft Plan of Management - Patonga caravan and camping area (1.9 mb)

The draft plan can also be viewed at the Department of Lands office, Banks St East Maitland, Gosford City Council's administration building at 49 Mann Street Gosford, from Council's Erina, Kincumber and Woy Woy Customer Service Centres and on Council's website.

Written submissions will be accepted up to 5.00pm on Wednesday 13 August 2008 and should be addressed to The General Manager Gosford City Council, PO Box 21, Gosford NSW 2250.

Any enquiries relating to this plan should be directed to:

Mr Martin Dawson
Tel: (02) 4937 9346
Email: martin.dawson@lands.nsw.gov.au

In relation to the Patonga Caravan and Camping Area development, how much value could be added with a focus on the aboriginal history of this important site, used by the Guringai not only to gather oysters and other food as the proposal suggests, but as a bora ground and the home of Bungaree, whose contribution as a Central Coast native needs to be embraced and celebrated. An interpretative Centre and Memorial associated with the Camping ground development would be a significant community and tourist benefit, at little extra cost.

It is in everyone's interest in providing young people in particular with information about local, including indigenous, issues and the relevance of Bungaree to the Patonga and Woy Woy peninsula is enormous.

The Draft Plan document on display, has an absence of mention of the interests of the Guringai aboriginal community in the area because of its enormous significance to them and as the home territory of Bungaree, arguably the most prominent aboriginal in the early community of Sydney, friend to Macquarie and other early prominent settlers, who twice circumnavigated Australia with Flinders and with King.

Bungaree has numerous places named for him from his circumnavigation, but no monument in NSW. This park redevelopment would be an ideal opportunity to create a monument to him, provide interpretation of the significance of the site to the aboriginal community and add a really interesting heritage dimension to the project that would add value and preserve a most important part of the unique history of the area.

Tracey Howie, of the Guringai Tribal Group and a direct descendant of Bungaree has more information and advice -
"Tracey Howie" (guringai@kooee.com.au) and his biographer KV SMITH, who can be contacted through the Mitchell Library.

The national IATSIS library in Canberra can also give you plenty of information on his significance and the links with the Woy Woy peninsula of which Patonga was a very important site both as a feeding source as your assessment acknowledges, but very much more as a Bora ground and a place of great tribal significance. (Bungaree’s father is buried in national park above Woy Woy).

You are implored to look at the opportunity this development presents to work with the aboriginal community on this development, and to strengthen the knowledge of heritage in the area, as coupling the caravan park with a Heritage development would add significant cultural vale to the area's assets.

Gosford City Council is holding a meeting at the Patonga Progress Hall at 10.00am on Sat. 19th July to discuss the proposal with concerned locals.

(16th June, 2008)

Pearls on the Beach Wins 'Restaurant of the Year' Award

Pearls on the Beach has been named the Central Coast's Restaurant of the Year for 2008, as well as being also named winner in the category - contemporary Australian restaurant at an awards night held on Monday, 16th June by Restaurant and Catering NSW.

It took out the prestigious major award, sponsored by The Sunday Telegraph, and the contemporary Australian restaurant category award, sponsored by the Foster's Group, by trumping many other well known Central Coast restaurants.

Pearls' owner/chef, Scott Fox, has a well deserved reputaion for excellence not only in Pearl Beach but all over the Central Coast and well beyond.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S, Scott and Melissa

(20th June, 2008)

Pearl Beach Wins Clean Beach Challenge Award

Pearl Beach has won an award in the Keep Australian Beautiful New South Wales Clean Beach Challenge, and has been highly recommended in second category.

Pearl Beach received the "Community Action Award" and was highly recommended in the Energy Australia Friendly Beach Award.

Toowoon Bay was again declared the Central Coast Regional Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Clean Beach Challenge.

Now in its seventh year, the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Clean Beach Challenge encourages and recognises coastal communities, local councils, volunteers and surf lifesaving clubs who focus on anti-litter initiatives, dune and habitat conservation, environmental education programs and initiatives that generally enhance the beach visitor's experience and protect the State's coastline.

The Awards were presented to Fay Austin, Co-ordinator of Pearl Beach Dune Care and a member of Landcare, on behalf of Pearl Beach community at Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club on November 6th, 2007.

Press release, 6 Nov 2007 Peter McLean, Keep Australia Beautiful New South Wales

Pearl Beach Drive Report

Gosford City Council commissioned the preparation of a Geotechnical and Slope Stability Risk Assessment Report on Pearl Beach Drive from Shirley Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd, one of Australia's leading and highly respected consulting and forensic engineering organisations. The report was prepared on the 3rd August, 2007.

The report contains information of critical importance to Chamber members and their businesses, and more importantly, to the wider Pearl Beach Community.

The report can be viewed at the following link: http://www.shirley.net.au/Community.shtml

(5th November, 2007)

DMS 'Final Letter Service'

Quickly recover from problem accounts - Peter Cybulski advises that since the last promotion of DMS ‘Final Letter Service’ many companies have tested the service with much the same result as previously – a ‘Satisfactory Outcome’ achieved in approximately 70% of cases referred, for a small fraction of typical ‘Collection’ costs.

Make 'payment demand' to overdue customers and others defaulting on their obligations as a precursor to formal 'Collection' or 'Legal Action'.

For a Quote please go to www.DMSGroup.net, select the ‘Final Letter Service’ option and choose either ‘Australian’ or ‘Overseas’ debtor. Why not ask DMS to chase those problem accounts now?

(30th October, 2007)