MidCoast Council has adopted the Southern Estuaries Coastal Management Program after extensive community consultation over the last few years.
The 10 year program aims to protect the lakes, lagoons and river system from Wallabi Point to Karuah River.
The program identifies 15 key challenges facing southern estuaries including climate change, flooding, erosion and the loss of important coastal wetlands.
To address these challenges, the program outlines 63 actions designed to improve the health and resilience of local waterways and surrounding environments.
Some of these actions include regenerating 1500 hectares of important estuary habitat, remediating 11 stormwater discharge sites, and protecting and revegetating seven major coastal wetlands.
MidCoast Council’s Manager of Natural Systems, Gerard Tuckerman, said the program reflects the community’s strong connection to local waterways.
“We know the community highly values these waterways and his program gives us a clear roadmap to help protect and improve them into the future.”
The program was developed with extensive community consultation across multiple stages over the past four years.
Over 860 engagement interactions took place over the stages of the program’s development. This included 440 surveys, 32 responses to an online poll, 239 conversations at pop-ups, 136 entries in a photography competition to promote the program, and 17 formal submissions.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback, ideas and local knowledge throughout the development of the program,” said Mr Tuckerman.
“The strong community response highlights just how important these waterways are to people in the MidCoast.”
The adopted Southern Estuaries Coastal Management Program will now be forwarded to the Minister for certification.
The certified Coastal Management Program will then be published in the Government Gazette in accordance with section 17 of the Coastal Management Act of 2016 once it is certified.
The CMP has been developed with funding and technical support from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, in collaboration with state agencies, Aboriginal representatives, and the local community.
