Do private property owners have the right to cut down vegetation on public reserves to improve their view?  It seems that this is now the position of Shoalhaven City Council.  There have been escalating instances of vandalism of foreshore vegetation along the Australian coastline to improve water views from private property owners. While most other Coastal Council install large signs, shade cloth, and even shipping containers to deter vandals, Shoalhaven Council appears to be siding with them.  In a shock move, Shoalhaven City Council has revealed plans to cut down native vegetation along a stretch of Collingwood Beach in Jervis Bay to a height of between 1 -1.5.m to appease a small group of private property owners. The Council is also proposing to remove all vandalism signs and support funding of "works" by private property owners fronting the dune. Please sign the petition to stop Shoalhaven City Council going ahead with these proposals. 

Background: In the 1960s frontal dunes of Collingwood Beach on Jervis Bay were leveled for residential development.  Major storms in the 1970s resulted in sand drifts covering household gardens, sand blasting paint from houses and sand accumulation causing ceiling collapse. Real-estate values fell accordingly. The NSW Soil Conservation Service and the local Progress Association began restoring a 1.5 km stretch of foreshore in 1978, by reshaping the dune and re-vegetating it with over 1,500 native shrubs and small trees including wattles, banksias and tea trees. In 1982 the Soil Conservation Service declared their first dune care project restoration a success.  This was demonstrated in 1986 when the damage to private property from serious storms was significantly reduced by the dune vegetation. 

The initial revegetation work continues to this day through the work of Shoalhaven Council Bushcare volunteers who maintain, weed and replant sections of the foreshore at Collingwood Beach.  This proposal by Shoalhaven City Council not only undermines years of work by community volunteers, but is also at odds with the outcome of community consultation processes. The proposal will shortly be on public exhibition for a reduced period of 4 weeks. More information is available on: http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=D16/128249​

http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=D16/139093