Council refusing to retreat from its erosion policy

Belongil Beach erosion

AS BELONGIL Beach property owners continue the fight to save their homes, Byron Shire Council is holding its ground over its planned erosion retreat policy.

The policy has been included in the council's soon-to-be-released Coastal Zone Management Plan, which reiterates its approach of 'letting nature take its course' when it comes to beach erosion.

The policy dictates that homeowners remove or demolish their homes at their own expense if they are threatened by the sea, and prevents them from putting protection works like rock walls in place. It proposes a uniform 20-metre development-free buffer between the erosion escarpment and human settlement.

Planned retreat has been the subject of intense debate in recent months as storm erosion and king tides hit homes at Belongil Beach.

The Belongil situation has put the spotlight on planned retreat, but Byron mayor Jan Barham says there is nothing new about the policy.

She said it had been in place since 1998 and a public hearing was held prior to its adoption.

The council says the policy has numerous benefits, including low maintenance costs and the protection of the environment and natural amenity of beaches.

But that's cold comfort for Belongil residents faced with the harsh reality of losing their homes.

Byron resident Christopher Dean said there were plenty of environmentally friendly and affordable alternatives to planned retreat the council should investigate.

He said the situation at Belongil had revealed a 'bitterly divided community' and accused the council of having an 'ideological vendetta against a group of people'.

“There's an attitude of 'they're just rich bastards and they can all go to hell',” Mr Dean said.