EUROBODALLA Shire Council has acted quickly to remove all sign of the Long Beach Dunecare works after passing a motion on Tuesday morning not to endorse any further applications for dune works on Bay Road.
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By Tuesday afternoon, all that remained of the planting was three dirt scars in a stretch of grass. But they showed little sign of an ugly wound still festering in the community.
Mayor Neil Mumme presented to the Works and Services committee meeting a detailed synopsis of events starting May 29, when the sunset committee resolved to remove the foreshore plantings and restore the area to its
former condition.
The Eurobodalla Landcare Management Committee (ELMC) executive and Councillor Chris Kowal resigned from the committee in protest.
Following a June 1 meeting with the head of Long Beach Dunecare, Cr Mumme agreed he and deputy general manager Peter Tegart would hold a meeting between representatives of the Dunecare group and the Long Beach Action Group.
Three days later former ELMC chair man John Hicks and the Dunecare group withdrew from further discussions. There were, however, two more meetings before a final telephone call between Mr Hicks and Cr Mumme on June 9.
"The situation that has evolved in the last two weeks has now blown out of all proportion," Cr Mumme said.
"What was initially a dispute involving approximately 100 square metres of works has now led to the entire Landcare programs within the shire being placed in jeopardy.
"I will continue my attempts to engage the Landcare community and work to rebuild the relationship with council."
Cr Mumme's subsequent motion included recommendations for council to acknowledge it erred in endorsing the grant application; revoke the project contract with Envirofund; and remove immediately the project items and reuse them elsewhere on the
foreshore.
He also moved that council work with the entire Long Beach community to seek funds and volunteers for another community project; consider an annual increase to Landcare funding; and request staff to examine all existing Plans of Management for potential controversial projects identified through the initial consultation.