The General Manager
Eurobodalla Shire Council 2 March 2007
PO Box 99
MORUYA NSW 2537

DRAFT PLAN OF MANAGEMENT FOR BROULEE-BENGELLO

Our Association welcomes the Plan of Management and looks forward to its implementation as soon as possible.

Restricted access to Bengello Forest - We are very pleased to see that vehicle access to the endangered ecological ecosystem, Bangalay Sand Forest, at Bengello will be restricted and believe this should be a top priority in the implementation of the plan. The proposals shown on the map seem to be the best outcome with upgraded parking areas at the old sand quarry, near the creek and near the airport windsock. Unauthorised vehicles should not be allowed north of the windsock along either the old road or the tracks on the dunes.

We understand that there will be times when authorised vehicles such as fire engines, and those of water and electricity utilities have to go into the forest. However, restricting the access of other vehicles should minimise the damage to the fragile sandy soils of the forest and hopefully will also reduce illegal dumping and arson.

We note that not all the current tracks through the forest are shown and can provide council with a sketch map of others if required.

Bengello Creek bridge - Coastwatchers questions the need to upgrade the bridge at Bengello Ck. It appears to be adequate for cycles and pedestrians. If the work is considered necessary it should have low priority.

Signage - Adequate signage should be a priority. What other way is there to inform users of the sensitive nature of the dunes and forest and the need to protect them? Signage needs to be obvious to be effective.

Overflow parking at the Surf Club - The proposal to have overflow parking on grass not bitumen and keeping/ planting shade trees is a good one. For most of the year the extra parking is not needed.

Closing the end of the road at the Surf Club - We also support stopping unauthorised vehicle access to the end of the current road at the Surf Club carpark. The proposal to make this narrow road into a grassed picnic area with walkway/cycleway is a good one. However we would like to see a couple of car parking spaces with views of the beach, near the boat ramp for example, kept and reserved for handicapped people. People often take infirm elderly and handicapped people for drives and these parking spaces at South Broulee give an interesting view of the beach and surfers. Perhaps instead of a second lookout over the stormwater drain a couple of parking spaces for handicapped people could be made there.

Extension of walkway/cycleway around base of headland - The proposed route around the headland is scenic but will not be as useful as a more direct link via Heath St. The street option would provide better access to the beach for residents of Banksia Village and other Broulee residents. In our opinion this route should get higher priority.

We do not object to the headland route as an additional shared cycleway but we do have some questions. The present track on the south side of the headland is very close to sea level and the flat area there is quite narrow. How vulnerable will a shared cycleway be to erosion given sea level rise and predicted increased storminess? How will the path avoid middens in the area around the headland?

Picnic tables and litter bins - Bins need to be placed close to picnic tables especially if the tables are close to shops. We question putting picnic tables in remote locations because of the problems of litter and binge drinking.

Lookouts / furniture -In deciding on construction materials for these facilities Council should consider ongoing maintenance. Unfortunately vandalism including fires have been and remain a problem.

North Broulee dune access tracks - These should have angles to reduce the scouring effect of wind. Stabilising and rationalising tracks through the dunes should be a high priority.

Parking along North Broulee - If there is to be angle parking then for safety's sake it should be reverse in. When vehicles have their rears towards the road people, including children, often spread onto the road itself while loading and unloading their equipment.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Jenny Edwards
Secretary
Phone 4471 5032