Council statement - Woodgate SEMP
FROM DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CR BILL TREVOR
While Council is grateful to have finally received approval from the State Government to address shoreline erosion management on Woodgate Beach the timing of the decision has essentially left us with our hands tied.
We’ve now received approval for the works 17 days out from the beginning of turtle season which means works will need to be postponed until May next year.
Receiving this approval was a long, protracted process which was unnecessarily dragged out by the State.
To ensure the project was shovel-ready, pending the outcome of any approval conditions, Council invited tenders for the works in March 2023.
Despite having an approved Development Application for Operational Works for Tidal Works in place since 24 August 2020, early advice from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in March this year suggested approval could not be granted for a Marine Park Permit.
Without the permit, Council cannot undertake works on the beach.
Since that time Council has advocated for this project on a number of occasions as per the below timeline.
- 30 March 2023 – Council received advice from QPWS (based on an incorrect understanding of legislation) that the work could not be approved.
- 3 April 2023 - Council requested intervention from the Director General of the Department of Environment and Science (DES).
- 7 June 2023 - Council received verbal approval from the Director General of DES subject to Council submitting a Marine Parks Permit.
- 21 July 2023 – After putting together an extensive body of work including some 180 supporting pages, the Marine Parks Permit was submitted for approval.
There is nothing in the way of conditions within the Marine Parks Permit now received that provides any insight into why the department raised initial roadblocks for the approval or why that approval then took nearly eight weeks to finalise.
We were told that by going through the process to develop a Coastal Hazard Adaption Strategy (CHAS) and the SEMP that it would speed up the assessment process.
The granting of this permit has done nothing to allay the concerns of residents.
The Woodgate Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) works, which Council remains committed to as a priority project, involves sand nourishment and the construction of a buried seawall.