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Items for Consideration of the Trust
Reports from Executive 5
1. ORIGIN: Director 5
Funding Resource Model - Maintenance of the Single Coastal Reserve 5
Items for Consideration of the Trust Items for Consideration of the Trust Items for Consideration of the Trust Items for Consideration of the Trust
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Reports from Executive
1. ORIGIN: Director
FILE REF: Single Coast Reserve REPORT TITLE:
Funding Resource Model - Maintenance of the Single Coastal Reserve SUMMARY OF REPORT:
A Single Coastal Reserve was established by the State Government on 7 November 1997 with Council being appointed as the Trust Manager and Council by resolution on 6 August 1997, initiated negotiations with the State Government to establish a funding model to support a program of maintenance, environmental rehabilitation, coastal rehabilitation and capital works.
A number of issues have been clarified in relation to the areas of inclusion and exclusion from the Single Coastal Reserve. While these matters have been resolved the issue of funding, whilst providing numbers of options, has not resulted in any sustainable resourcing models.
A draft letter to the Minister for Land and Water Conservation requires the Trust's endorsement to enable progressing of the matters.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Trust endorses the draft letter to the Minister of Land and Water Conservation seeking confirmation of the Minister's commitment to a resourcing model for the sustainable maintenance and embellishment of the Single Coastal Reserve.
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REPORT:
A Single Coastal Reserve concept was developed by the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLAWC) which resulted in a formalised proposal from the Department together with a draft Plan of Management.
Council, at its meeting of 2 July 1997, resolved:
“1. Expresses no objection to the public exhibition of the draft Plan of Management as prepared by the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
2. Delegates to the Executive Management Team (or nominees) to further negotiate with the Department of Land and Water Conservation regarding the exact areas which will be proposed for transfer to Council as part of an established single coastal reserve.
3. Notes that a full report will be submitted to Council and the Tweed Reserves Trust following public exhibition of the draft Plan of Management for the single coastal reserve regarding the exact land to be transferred and the financial implications thereof.
4. Conveys to the Department of Land and Water Conservation that Council does not accept transfer of the single coastal reserve at this stage and will make a decision on this following the public exhibition of the draft Plan of Management and a further report on the financial and other implications given the potential impact on the Council Budget and Tweed Shire ratepayers.
5. Council requests a financial plan of management from DLAWC which demonstrates how the proposal will be funded by State Government or others.”
Subsequently, at the Council’s meeting of 6 August 1997 Council passed the following resolution:
“1. a. Advises the Department of Land and Water Conservation of acceptance of transfer of the Single Coastal Reserve including the newly added Reserves adjacent to the Round Mountain Sportfields between Hastings Point and Pottsville.
b. Will initiate negotiations with the State Government to provide funding support for a program of maintenance, environmental rehabilitation, coastal rehabilitation and capital works. Indicatively, commitment should be given by State Government to $1M over the next 5 years.
c) This acceptance will be for a period of 2 years by which time the position will be reviewed by Council. If Council has not received suitable funding agreements through the State Government at that review, Council has the option of relinquishing management and control of the Single Coastal Reserve.
2. Supports the public exhibition of the draft Plan of Management for the Single Coastal Reserve as prepared by the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
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3. Makes a submission to the Department of Land and Water Conservation and the Minister for the establishment of a Coastline Management Committee relating to the whole reserve and seek expressions of interest from the community for representation of this Committee.”
Following a further resolution of Council on 4 March 1998 the General Manager wrote to the Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation seeking a meeting to discuss funding options for the Single Coastal Reserve and the possible inclusion of the Tourism NSW site as a further funding option.
The Director-General on 21 June 1998 responded acknowledging various funding option outcomes of the meeting between DLAWC North Coast Regional officers and Council officers regarding the Tweed Coast Reserve draft Plan of Management and costs associated with the management of coastal Crown Lands.
Since that time a number of further options have been discussed.
At a recent Council meeting, 6 March 2002, it was resolved that “a letter be forwarded to the Minister asking him to confirm that 100% of income from the rental of Lot 490 DP 47021 will be used for the maintenance of the Single Coastal Reserve.”
Subsequently, at the Tweed Coast Reserve Trust, the response from the Regional Director, North Coast, DLAWC was received and noted. This letter in part stated:
‘DLWC has continually stated, and demonstrated, its commitment to the project with the aim of assisting Tweed Shire Council with funding the management of the other coastal Crown reserves for which it is the appointed corporate manager.”
and
“The Ministers consideration of the dispersal for these proceeds will be based on the contents of any business case submitted outlining how the lease fees are proposed to be applied directly to the lands managed by the Tweed Coast Reserve Trust.”
The result of this response is that the Trust needs a greater level of assurance as to the Minister’s commitment that the lease revenues generated by a development and other developments in the Single Coastal Reserve will be retained by the Trust to enable embellishment and maintenance programs to be adequately provided. In this regard it is recommended that the Trust endorses the draft letter to the Minister, seeking the Minister’s commitment to a resourcing model that involves retention of revenues from commercial developments for application by the Trust to the program.
“The Hon. John Aquilina MP
Minister for Land & Water Conservation Level 2
35 Bridge Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Dear Minister
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Tweed Coast - Single Coast Reserve
As you may not be aware of the background to the Trust’s concerns in relation to the Single Coast Reserve proposal I have provided the following resolution of Council from its meeting 6 August 1997.
“1. a. Advises the Department of Land and Water Conservation of acceptance of transfer of the Single Coastal Reserve including the newly added Reserves adjacent to the Round Mountain Sportfields between Hastings Point and Pottsville.
b. Will initiate negotiations with the State Government to provide funding support for a program of maintenance, environmental rehabilitation, coastal rehabilitation and capital works. Indicatively, commitment should be given by State Government to $1M over the next 5 years.
c) This acceptance will be for a period of 2 years by which time the position will be reviewed by Council. If Council has not received suitable funding agreements through the State Government at that review, Council has the option of relinquishing management and control of the Single Coastal Reserve.
2. Supports the public exhibition of the draft Plan of Management for the Single Coastal Reserve as prepared by the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
3. Makes a submission to the Department of Land and Water Conservation and the Minister for the establishment of a Coastline Management Committee relating to the whole reserve and seek expressions of interest from the community for representation of this Committee.”
Following a further resolution of Council on 4 March 1998 the General Manager wrote to the Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation seeking a meeting to discuss funding options for the Single Coastal Reserve and the possible inclusion of the Tourism NSW site as a further funding option.
On 14 June 2002 your Regional Director North Coast, Mr Des Schroeder responded to a letter from the Executive Officer of the Trust, Dr John Griffin, dated 12 March 2002. This letter had sought clarification to a matter raised by the Tweed Coast Reserve Trust relating to assurance that revenue from a lease associated with a development of Lot 490 would be retained by the Trust.
Over the past two years officers of Council have held a number of meetings with officers of your Department exploring funding options to provide for the sustainable maintenance and embellishment of the single coast reserve. The understanding formed from these discussions, is that funds raised from developments associated with Lot 490 and Norries Head would be retained by the Trust. The Trust accepted long term responsibility for the Single Coastal Reserve provided that a funding mechanism could be established for a
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program of maintenance, environmental rehabilitation, coastal rehabilitation and capital works, for and on behalf of, the people of New South Wales.
Consistent with your Government’s requirement Council, in conjunction with the Department of Land and Water Conservation is in the process of preparing a Coastal Management Plan. It is envisaged that this Plan, when adopted, will identify a number of actions necessary to maintain the social, economic and environmental values of the single coastal reserve. These works will entail significant expenditure.
Tweed Shire has the highest increases in population and tourist visitation in New South Wales. The rates of these increases are accelerating. Therefore, there are very high and increasing pressures on the Single Coastal Reserve.
The Trust is now seeking confirmation of your commitment to a resourcing model that reflects and honours previous indications of your Government’s support for the Tweed Coast Reserve Trust to retain revenues from commercial development on the Reserve for direct application to lands managed by the Trust.”
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