The General Manager 17 July 2008
Eurobodalla Shire Council
PO Box 99
Moruya NSW 2537
DA 823/O8 Ref 80.3076.D
INSTALLATION OF FLOATING PONTOONS, FILLING AND RETAINING WALLS
“THE MOORINGS” 2160 GEORGE BASS DRIVE, TOMAKIN
Coastwatchers Association strongly objects to the approval of this Development Application because of the impact it will have on the Tomaga River. Our submission focuses on several issues –
Inadequate plans
Assuming the diagonal lines on the sketch plan indicate fill in the stepped area to the artificial beach, this will be a source of pollution to the river. All except the topmost step will be underwater at most high tides and even the top step is submerged by high spring tides. The Marine Parks Permit is for a “stepped deck area” (presumably made of suitable decking material not fill) and is to give “access to waters edge for boats”
The sketch plan shows the stepped “deck” as giving access to an artificial beach and netted tidal pool, not to boats.
What is really being proposed?
Sea grass grows in the marina. How will the pontoons be constructed to reduce shading?
Use of polluting materials
The sketch plans do not indicate what the retaining walls will be made of but we feel it is safe to assume that the applicants intend to use marine grade treated pine like the existing walls. The poles for the pontoons are shown as this material. Treated pine is recognised as a pollutant of waterways because of the toxic chemicals that leach from it. It should not be used when safer alternatives are readily available and used extensively elsewhere.
Sediment pollution
We recently complained to council rangers about the ongoing sediment pollution caused by poor design of the retaining walls at “The Moorings”. However, our complaint was not acted upon.
The vertical walls are not lined with sediment cloth and are being undermined. The design compounds the problem by worsening wave reflection.
Wheelbarrows of soil are regularly tipped behind the wall to fill holes caused by the undermining and subsequently add to the sediment pollution of the marina and river as the erosion continues.
Builders can be fined for sediment leaving their sites even though these may be considerable distances from the nearest waterway. Why is “The Moorings” being allowed to pollute with impunity?
Need for a rock toe
The Dept of Water and Energy, in a letter to Council dated 19 March 2008, said they had never approved the current retaining walls, asked to be kept informed and suggested that a rock toe be built at the foot of the walls as “reflected wave action may affect other sections of the Marina”.
Could this wave action also affect the river banks near the entrance to the marina?
Reflected waves will certainly have the effect of removing any sand used to create an artificial beach. If the sand to form the beach is to be dredged from the marina this proposal needs to be part of the DA. Dredging will impact on the seagrass present and sand eroding from the artificial beach will smother any that is still surviving.
We ask Council to refuse this application.
Yours sincerely
Jenny Edwards
Acting Secretary