Byron Shire Council bagged | Northern Rivers Environment | Environmental News in Northern Rivers

Kate O'Neill | 25th June 2009

BEACH BATTLE: Frantic sandbagging managed to protect two properties at Belongil Beach from Tuesday night’s king tide, with another king tide expected last night.

JAY CRONAN

BELONGIL Beach properties under immediate threat from this week's king tides appear to have been saved by last-minute sandbagging, but the fight continues to protect the coastal strip.

The two most vulnerable properties - holiday accommodation Bluewater on the Beach, and the home of John Vaughan - held up against the king tide on Tuesday night, but not before a battle with Byron Shire Council for the right to put protection works in place.

Exhausted Bluewater on the Beach manager Ian Astley was yesterday continuing to bag in front of the property to protect it from another king tide last night, while three to four days of sandbagging work in front of John Vaughan's property has thus far managed to stop the encroaching seas.

There has now been a call for NSW Premier Nathan Rees to intervene as Byron Shire Council is accused of 'continued inaction'.

Ed Ahern, president of Byron business group Byron United, said Mr Rees should abolish the council policy that stops protection works from being undertaken.

“Ignoring and refusing to help residents threatened by natural disasters is unacceptable. Our community deserves to have our natural environment protected from this vandalism,” he said.

Mr Ahern said a breach of the Belongil spit would cost the council and community millions of dollars, threaten the homes of hundreds and lead to the loss of 40 full-time jobs at Belongil.

Mr Ahern's call is part of a growing community campaign against the council's 'planned retreat' coastal policy, which restricts development in erosion-prone areas and requires homes be moved or demolished if threatened.

Byron mayor Jan Barham said the council remained committed to the policy: “People who buy into planned retreat areas are informed of the restrictions for development. They purchase with the knowledge of the risk.”

• Daily newspapers
• Bundaberg News-Mail
• Coffs Coast Advocate
• Fraser Coast Chronicle
• Gladstone Observer
• Grafton Daily Examiner
• Gympie Times
• Ipswich Queensland Times
• Lismore Northern Star
• Mackay Daily Mercury
• Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Toowoomba Chronicle
• Tweed Daily News
• Warwick Daily News
• Community newspapers
• Ballina Shire Advocate
• Biloela Central Telegraph
• Byron Shire News
• Coolum & North Shore News
• East-Ipswich Satellite
• Emerald Central Queensland News
• Gatton Star
• Gold Coast Mail
• Ipswich Advertiser
• Logan Reporter
• Noosa News
• The Northern Rivers Echo
• Whitsunday Times
• Other publications
• Surat Basin News