Redland City Council is calling on the State Government to meet with Amity Point residents to discuss ongoing erosion that has affected the Amity township for decades.
Council today supported a notice of motion from Division 2 Councillor Craig Ogilvie for Council to ask the State Government to reduce red tape to make it easier for Amity Point residents to defend their properties.
“While the Amity erosion issue is nothing new, it continues to have the potential for significant consequences for affected residents, so it is important all parties, including the State Government, meet to discuss the dangers and how to deal with this issue in the future ” Cr Ogilvie said.
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“Council recently met with Amity Point residents to discuss the issue and we will now establish an advisory committee including members of the community to further develop Council’s draft Amity Point Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP).
“Council also today voted to delay the plan being tabled by Council until at least the end of June, allowing time for the community and the State Government to be further involved and for additional studies to be completed to inform the final strategy.
“The State Government’s marine mapping shows the impact of future erosion at Amity Point so they really need to be part of the conversation and help preserve the cultural economic importance of Amity to the North Stradbroke Island and wider community.”
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the State Government needed to be part of discussions on the ongoing erosion at Amity Point.
“I am writing to the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell asking for his support,” she said.
“The fact is we can’t fight Mother Nature. The erosion is naturally occurring and has been happening for centuries, but that doesn’t mean we should shy away from the issue and not look at all scenarios and solutions.
“As well as offering a potential funding source for solutions, the State Government also has to approve possible controls including the use of rocks by residents to try to halt the erosion, which has been used in the past.
“The draft SEMP report suggests that installing rocks along the shoreline has proved ineffective in the past and was actually making things worse, We need to work with the community and investigate the alternatives including reviewing the legislation that limits some the options.
“The 20 metre deep Rainbow Passage now abuts directly against Amity Point and the placement of rocks on the shoreline was potentially exacerbating scouring below.
“State Government coastal policy also recommends that natural erosion processes should be allowed to occur in most circumstances, which is in line with a retreat strategy that has been in place at Amity Point for decades with the zoning put in place in the late 1980s requiring properties in the affected area to be re-locatable.”
