Dear MCNOTA,
The last meeting of the Hawks Nest / Tea Gardens Progress Association was held on Monday 8th September and we were fortunate enough to have the local Labor candidate for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, attend the meeting.
The meeting heard reports from representatives of local groups regarding their individual activities.
These groups included the Myall Koala and Environment Group, the Myall Coast Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Myall U3A, Riverside Art Walk Group, the Arts and Crafts Centre, Myall Coast Historical Society, and the Myall Masters Swimming Club.
Obviously, the amount of knowledge exchanged at these meetings indicates the importance of being a member of the Progress Association.
Kate Washington was able to listen to, and comment on, many of the other issues affecting our local community including the possible development of North Hawks Nest, the many tourism improvement projects being pursued by the Association, the proposed use of recycled sewage on Myall Oval, and the need for shade structures at all the children’s playgrounds in our towns.
Three traffic management issues in Myall Way at Tea Gardens were also discussed at the meeting.
The Progress Association resolved to write to Great Lakes Council to have the speed limit reduced in the vicinity of the Lion’s Lookout, urgently undertake heavy patching of the pavement in Myall Quays Boulevarde at Myall Way and, in the short term, install a temporary roundabout at that intersection, and investigate the potential road safety issues associated with vehicles passing the new pedestrian refuge island when buses are at the adjacent bus stop.
But, without doubt, the issue that generated the most lively debate at the meeting was the delay to the proposed dredging of the Myall River short-cut and, just as importantly, the issue of the replenishment of sand on Jimmy’s Beach.
It was acknowledged by the majority of those at the meeting that the continuing replenishment of sand by excavation from the Yacaaba spit and trucking of the material to the section of Jimmy’s Beach beside The Boulevarde was unsustainable and an ongoing drain on Council’s funds, which are primarily sourced from resident’s rate payments.
One resident of Winda Woppa advised that he had witnessed hundreds of truck movements with sand being taken to Jimmy’s Beach, only to see the huge quantity of sand eroded within 24 hours!
This was due to the recent low pressure system which generated large waves within Port Stephens.
This activity highlights the absolute need for a permanent structure, such as a groyne, to protect the beach and Council’s road asset (The Boulevarde) and the adjacent properties.
The Progress Association is so concerned about this issue that it resolved to write to the Premier, our local member Craig Baumann, the Minister for the Environment, Shadow Ministries, Great Lakes Council and the media demanding that some urgent action be taken to provide a permanent protective structure for Jimmy’s Beach.
The continued waste of ratepayer’s money cannot be allowed to occur whilst there is a potential natural disaster imminent.
Trevor Jennings
President of
Hawks Nest / Tea Gardens
Progress Association
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