Foreshore under threat… what’s new it seems!
Sue Brooks March 4th, 2012
I was so sad listening to the Mayoral candidates at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Hervey Bay last Wednesday. When asked about their vision for the Foreshore both Gerard O’Connell and Chris Couper had similar answers. Trees and mown lawns were the preferred model. Let’s be like Caloundra was one suggestion! Mayor Mick was the only candidate who mentioned retaining the natural areas along our foreshore. Maybe the other candidates are not aware that many rural small communities live alongside the foreshore. The foreshore isn’t just the bit in town along the Hervey Bay Esplanade but I think that section is where the question was direced to. So once again I worry that a new Council will be full of ‘clear the foreshore’ for views believers.
I spent this morning with school children, residents, Council staff and Mayor Mick at the Pier Park foreshore as part of Clean Up Australia Day. We weeded and we planted. We agreed that the high profile garden beds and the areas alongside pathways all need to be kept tidy, weed and broken timber and rubbish free and planted with predominantly native plants. My belief is that we can attain a happy balance. Ensure that the areas where the most people frequent have a slightly more garden like appearance but with a range of textures, treatments and plants. In other words a lot more variety and colour and wildlife friendly than mown lawn and a few trees would provide. I also believe that there are many, many areas of foreshore that can remain basically natural! Yes we need your help to control the weeds so join in and roll up your sleeves to keep the natural areas weed free… but NATURAL!
Last time I visited Noosa and Mission Beach both these places still have natural foreshores and yet tourism is their biggest drawcard. We need to place ourselves alongside these places not with the denuded windswept foreshores found at places like the Gold Coast etc. Our foreshore is our gold mine. It is what draws residents and tourists alike. Nuke it and you will destroy what we all love and care for. I just wonder how much longer we can battle the wishes of developers and the seemingly growing number of beach front residents who want a treeless, wildlife less, sand strewn and windswept foreshore which affords them the views they crave? As to the Mayoral candidates wanting my vote. I will not vote for anyone that even hints at a vision of the foreshore markedly different from what we already have!
- Council related issues
- Comments(6)
That is a very interesting post Sue, for those of us who know little or nothing about the Mayoral candidates’ attitudes to that dreadful word ‘DEVELOPMENT’ . If it were possible, a similar analysis of Councillor candidates’ predilections would help at least this voter.
Hervey Bay must not be turned into a high rise concrete jungle in the worship of the God Tourism and his angels – developers, tourist operators, and hoteliers.
It seems that the quality of life of the ordinary elderly ratepaying resident who came here for peace and freedom from city attitudes, and locals who have lived here all their lives, comes a poor last in the eyes of most politicians. From Canberra down through Queen St even to local government . Money rules.
Hi Jane. Maybe if you could rewrite and pose your thoughts as questions? Love to post it but don’t want to attract more attention to myself. I have been burned in election campaigns in the past so prefer to not invite unwanted media attention. But I agree with your sentiments. Questions would be the way to go…
Well said Colin! A few questions for you Sue, I have already written to the Indy in regard to Chris Couper and his ideas of needing a “change”! It’s all very well for him to be self promoting but the people of Hervey Bay have to ask themselves just where he is coming from….Real Estate. I am not totally sure but have heard that, if elected Mayor, will he be retiring from the Real Estate and a relative will be taking over? If so, how convenient! Will his ideas will be just that of a real estate agent, to get rid of the foliage along the foreshore to enhance the views of the vacant land and existing single dwellings? All this adding up to the almighty dollar! Between that idea and another “bright spark” to turn the foreshore into a “Wet and Wild” park we have no hope, next it will be a casino on the Pier!!
Unfortunately there may be a lot of people who live in Maryborough who would not be affected by the decimation of our foreshore and would fall for this real estate agents “charm”, just like a used car salesman!
Print this or not I will also be writing into the Chronicle to hopefully sway at least a couple of people who care! I understand that these are my words and not yours so the choice for you to print this is questionable but I must give you a huge Thank You for standing up for what is best for Hervey Bay and the “little” people.
Sue,
I am having some problems with both your and Jane’s posts.
As to the forshore question to the mayoral candidates, their answers depend on the context of the question. I very much doubt the question was regarding the whole FCRC’s coast line, but rather Hervey Bay’s. Just what is wrong with “trees and lawns”?
Bagara’s forshore leaves our’s for dead as does it’s cleanliness.
Regarding the current occupation of one of the candidates, just what is wrong with selling real estate? I’d suggest people look at the past occupations of the other two.
Added to which, one of them already has more than one job.
Lastly, regarding how one votes; this is of course a personal issue, but I chose to look at the candidate as a whole, not just one facit of their program.
Hi Sue
We most certainly don’t want another Gold Coast. Leave the foreshore in its natural state, but add a few more picnic places with view onto the water and stop mulching the foreshore in the most lovely places so that we do not have any more access.
What is far more important is how to keep the foreshore from more and more erosion.
The boulder retaining walls could be a good solution. We do have them in some places and it does do the job. Have a look at the erosion at the end of Beach Road, Pialba. If nothing is being done there, the footbath with be gone in the not too distant future. We did warn council about that problem years ago, and nothing has been done.
We are both adamant that the foreshore should be left just as it is. There are so few seaside areas where there is not highrise or highly manicured lawns. Lawns are all very well, but let’s think of the maintenance costs. In the beginning Hervey Bay was a great fisherman’s holiday spot, and a lovely family area where the kids could enjoy the sand and water. Hopefully this will always be the case, as there are many of us who simply cannot afford the prices of holiday homes and units, particularly when the family consists of a few children. We can see the $$ signs reflected in Chris Cooper’s thinking, and like you, we don’t want him to start developing the front if he is elected. I know we endeavour to encourage backpackers and tourists here, particularly in whale season, but let’s face it, most tourists go across to Fraser Island and only spend a few days in the Bay. The caravan parks are ideal for us ordinary people, and with improvements when needed, the cost to stay in these parks is markedly cheaper than elsewhere. Mayor Kruger has the right formula, and we hope many other residents feel the same way. He has a proven record, and the experience.