A second Tuross Lake boatramp

MEMBER for Bega Andrew Constance announced that Eurobodalla Shire has been given a grants in 2012 to improve boating infrastructure under the Better Boating Programme.

The Program has allocated $15,000 towards the investigation and assessment of the most suitable site including survey investigation, design and environmental assessment of a new boat ramp at Tuross Head

In May 2010 the Tuross Head Progress Association made the following submission to the Draft Recreation and Open Space Strategy

The THPA would like to raise, on behalf of the Tuross Head community, a submission to the Draft Recreation and Open Space Strategy that will provide an opportunity of reminding Council of the current Kyla Park Community Land Foreshore Reserves, Parkland & Boat Ramp Plan of Management No 26 Adopted 9 December 2003 that puts forward the following (Section 14.6.1 in part):

- To provide for a boat ramp, carpark and associated infrastructure on Lot 86 DP260321 in such a manner consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (refer to page 52) and will minimise and mitigate any disturbance caused by human intrusion.

The Kyla Park Community Land Foreshore Reserves, Parkland & Boat Ramp Plan of Management Plan notes: This project is identified in Council’s Eurobodalla Waterways Infrastructure Strategy - A Strategy for the Provision and Maintenance of Wharves, Jetties and Launching Ramps throughout Eurobodalla Shire, June 2002. Section 12.4.1.3 of the strategy comments “An additional ramp to the upper parts of Tuross Lakes has been requested. This should be investigated as it will decrease the amount of uncontrolled launching currently occurring along Hector McWilliam Drive. An appropriate location is off the community land opposite Lake Street (Lot 75 DP 260321). This proposal should be further investigated in any plan of management for this area.”

Additionally in 14.6.1 of the Operational Plan for land categorised as General community Use - part lot 75 DP 260321 set down on this management Plan it states the following (in part):

To provide a boat ramp, car park and associated infrastructure to meet the needs of the community in relation to recreational boating access to Tuross Lake.

To ensure that the development of a boat ramp, car park and associated infrastructure is not unduly intrusive to nearby residents.

§ Boat ramp, car park and associated infrastructure located appropriately to minimise any impact on nearby residents.

§ Road on the easement through the Community Land (Lot 75) is maintained by Council in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards for road maintenance.

Means of Achievement:

§ Application for funding from Council sources

§ Application for funding from grant sources

§ Utilisation of allocated funds raised from the lease for grazing on Lots 78 & 790

§ Local fund raising

§ Community consultation with neighbouring property owners on any proposal to restore and/or regenerate foreshore land.

With just a quick read of the above Councillors and Counil staff were reminded to reacquaint themselves with the Kyla Park Community Land – Foreshore Reserves, Parkland & Boat Ramp– Plan of Management No. 26 which you can find at the following link:

http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/site/publications/strategies/management/26KylaPark.pdf

If you would like to have your say on the proposed location above or on Tuross Lake having a second boatramp we look forward to hearing your opinion

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Why are they selling up and leaving?

Ten percent of Tuross Head for Sale !!!!

In 2006 Tuross had 179 vacant blocks and 1650 houses of which 1010 were permanently occupied

This month sees 184 properties listed for sale—10% of the town

Locals have remarked about, what appears to be, a growing number of For Sale signs around Eurobodalla and Tuross. When companies find they are losing large numbers of customers or staff, they conduct exit interviews or use other means to acquaint themselves with the reasons.

We would not wish to invade the privacy of others, but as a caring community perhaps we should be trying to determine whether there is anything the community, THPA, local businesses or Council could be planning to do to keep our residents and home owners preferring to be here.

Whist it is recognised that some community members will have many reasons for moving away from the town, the Tuross Head Progress Association invites those who are selling their houses or land to let them know of any issues and reasons that the community and our town planners should consider?

No doubt the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Town Planners have their own concerns and are working hard behind the scenes in discussions of the increasing need for public transport, medical access and employment opportunities.

The Eurobodalla Council Vision 2030 report highlighted these concerns and expectations.

If able can you tell others your own reasons for selling up and leaving Tuross

The dredging of the Tuross Boat Ramp

On the past weekend four separate groups of boaters over a hour and a half that where going to launch at Tuross ramp decided to go elsewhere (Narooma or Moruya) to launch their boat. Anecdotally this has been happening all too often. At Christmas it was more than apparent and lead to great frustration for boat owners trying to launch and retrieve.

Turning visitors away from Tuross and sending them elsewhere hurts businesses in Tuross and affects us all, not only directly immediately in the back pocket now, but in the future as well.

When we get a decline in business we get a decline in our local economy, no cafes, no shops, no services, no trades …. people don't want to come here any more and when they go elsewhere businesses, houses and land loose value. It really isn’t rocket science.

Do you feel that it is important to keep this boatramp servicable? Have your say:

No Beach patrol for Summer 2010-2011

Eurobodalla Shire Council, as a consequence of not receiving State approval of a rate rise above CPI determined that it would withdraw a range of services that it considered were no longer affordable.

One of these was the withdrawal of $150,000 that paid for the annual beach patrol services provided by Australian Lifesaving Services to seven of the key shire beaches over the summer holiday period.

The main beach of Tuross Head was one of these seven beaches.

It is estimated that $24,000 is required to provide the Beach Patrol service to Tuross Head.

Following a cancellation of a summer holiday booking and threats of other cancellations Tuross businesses have now begun to realise that not only the risk of loss of life is at stake without a patrolled beach but widespread financial loss is also at hand if tourists begin to consider having their holidays elsewhere where beaches are patrolled.

Council say they will not back down on their descision.

Either sponsors are found to provide the $24,000 or there will be no beach patrol for our summer visitors.

For more background information visit this page

Have your say :

Where should the River mouth be opened?

Is the Tuross River mouth being opened by Council in the right place as determined by their Opening Policy

The Policy directs Council to have any opening “located as far north as practical depending on channel location”.

There was no consultation regarding the location of any proposed opening and following previous openings at this location there are many in the Tuross Community who disagree with the science of the location as being the best possible to ensure the longest possible opening opportunity.

What do you think?

Do we need a permanent Police Officer in Tuross?

Each year the question of a permanent police presence in Tuross Head is raised.

The Eurobodalla Coast is serviced by Batemans Bay, Moruya, Bodalla and Narooma Police Stations with Batemans Bay being the only 24/7 police station servicing Eurobodalla and Bega Shires.

The question of possible under resourcing of Polices numbers is often raised however, per capita, the South Coast has 2 positions above the official NSW per capita ratios.

The summer period tends to be the time when the village is most exposed to criminal intent. Starting with the end of school festivities in November the village then takes in the influx of visitors here to enjoy the summer. With these visitors come opportunists very much aware of the policing limitations of the village and the south coast.

A late night phone call to the police in Batemans Bay would see, at a minimum, a response time of 45 minutes. This immediate response could only be expected based on highest priority at the time. Ransacking of cars and domestic theft without violence would need be weighed against street brawling and late night vehicle accidents. At best victims might expect a police response within 48 hours if resources allow.

What can be done?

Letters can be written to your Member of Parliament to be passed on to the Minister of Police asking “What will trigger a permanent Police presence in Tuross Head?” The Minister will respond personally to each letter sent. The Minister will no doubt be swayed by the weight of numbers in a request for a permanent police presence though only if it can be deemed to be required. Based on village crime rates most likely a permanent police presence would be deemed as not being required.

What is required is a Seasonal presence where an officer was accommodated in a local caravan park for the season to then provide a “permanent” police presence to the village.

Following on from a spate of thefts in Tuross over recent years it is apparent that most residents leave themselves exposed to opportunistic thieves who, time and time again find cars and homes left open.

Whilst it would be of major benefit to have a local police officer, seasonally or otherwise, residents do need to take their own precautions. The www.turosshead.org website has published a document called Tuross Watch that is recommended reading for all residents. It can be found at this link: http://www.turosshead.org/Pages/TurossWatch.htm

Until we have increased police numbers residents are reminded to do what best they can to limit their exposure to theft. It is important to report every crime to police though as it will only be by statistics that a village such as ours can lobby for a stronger police presence.

Hood Cres - Who owns the land?

Who owns the “VRA land” that Council wishes to sell in Hood Cres?




A question is raised over who owns the land that Council wishes to sell on Hood Cres
currently used by the VRA ?
The possible sale has been identified by Council in it’s Management Plan under Table 1A-1:
Properties Listed for Sale where they state: “ In line with council policy, surplus property has been or will be offered for sale by tender, private treaty or auction. The proceeds are used to develop other property or offset the need to raise revenues through rates to provide other services.”

The land in question was donated to the Tuross Head Bushfire Brigade by Hector McWilliam in 1963. The Bush Fire Brigade were advised that the land was to be transferred to Council for it to be unrateable. The land was dutifully transferred by Hector McWilliam to Council and the fire shed built and remained in operation until 1986 when the Bush Fire Brigade relocated to it’s present location in Drake Street .

The new shed in Drake Street was built on Council land with materials supplied by Council and labour provided by volunteers and through the Red Scheme (work for the dole). As is evident throughout the Eurobodalla Shire bushfire sheds are universally located on Council owned land and come under Councils care and control. Council has provided land to all of the Bush Fire Brigades in the Shire (with NO Bush Fire Brigade being required to purchase its own land).

The Tuross Head VRA has enjoyed the use of the Hood Cres land and shed owned by the Fire Brigade since 1986 and have extended the old Fire Shed to two bays at their own cost, leasing the property for a peppercorn rent of $1.10 per year from Council. They have three years remaining on their present lease. It could be argued that moral ownership of the donated
land is still held by the Tuross Head Bushfire Brigade to whom the land was generously given by Hector McWilliam.

No doubt the fire brigade is grateful for Councils generosity over the years in making the land
“unrateable” by the technicality of “transferring” ownership to Council however, now that Council wishes to sell the land the information provided by the Bush Fire Minute book is offered so that residents of Tuross can determine for themselves who should be the beneficiary of the sale of this parcel of land.

Whilst official permission was not forthcoming to show the minutes of the 1963 meetings in full the two scanned images shown here do tell their own story. The original minute book is secure and scanned images have been made.

Do you think the Tuross Fire Brigade and Tuross Community should benefit solely from the sale of this land or do you think Council owns the land and can do what it likes with the proceeds of sale? Have your say....

Overnight Parking Bay in Drake Street

Residents have noticed of late that there are large timber jinkers parked overnight in Drake Street near the Fire Station. They are parked out of the way in an area used to store gravel and dirt. No doubt they make no noise at all overnight and are gone early in the morning.
A growing number of Tuross residents have einquired of Council staff whether Council has authorised logging trucks to use Council property in Tuross Head. These trucks have now been using the parking site each night for several weeks and it appears that they will be using it for some months more. Often these trucks are loaded with cut down trees.

Residents have cited NSW Road Rules – Regulation 200 – which does not permit drivers of heavy vehicles, or long vehicles [other than a bus] to stop on a length of road in a built up area for longer than one hour. So these trucks can not be parked overnight in residential streets.

Council was asked by residents:
[1] is Council aware heavily laden logging trucks are being driven through residential streets of Tuross Head, mostly after dark, to be parked on Community Land or Council property off Drake Street in Tuross Head?
[2] has Council authorised the logging truck operator / drivers to park heavy vehicles on Community Land OR on Council property off Drake Street in Tuross Head? If so, for what period of time? What income will Council receive for providing such facility and the associated liabilities?
[3] if Council has authorised use of Community Land or Council property, by a commercial company that is not conducting activities on behalf of Council, what authority does Council rely on to permit such use?
[4] if Council has not authorised such use of Community Land or Council property, what steps will Council take to prevent illegal use of this land?
[5] does Council require rate payers to subsidise logging activities, or will Council seek compensation from the truck company for accelerated deterioration of road surfaces in Tuross Head?

These are all solid questions and Council is bound to take formal notice of them … however there are consequences to be considered in moving these truck along.

As a result of resident complaint the logging company have been asked to park their trucks at one of our industrial areas instead. This will see the loggers relocating from Tuross to either Dalmeny or to Moruya.

Please Note: Council staff are working with the owners to identify alternate sites for the vehicles.

Few know that these same loggers bring approx $1000 per day to our village in groceries fuel, restaurant meals and services and rents. They make an absolute point of shopping locally and being asked to move on comes at a far higher cost to the community than the visual dissatisfaction of a few residents.

The village already has several semi trailer movements per day with supplies coming in. It is critical to the loggers that their trucks be safe over night and they have developed a good trust of this community and feel that their trucks are safe here.

Though residents might be against logging it is a legal activity under law and as such these trucks have a right to be here in the Shire and working. That the loggers have chosen to stay in Tuross Head is a bonus for this town at this time of the year and in these financially difficult times.

The very same questions asked above by residents last time around resulted in the local bus company having to relocate its overnight parking to the industrial area in Moruya some years ago. As it so happened that move has fortunately resulted in the construction of a high quality facility in Moruya which the bus company is incredibly proud of. Lost in the whole exercise though was the possibility of Tuross having ready access to reliable, accessible, affordable public transport.

Should there be a section of land that could be used to accommodate larger vehicles overnight? Should the trucks be made to move on?

The Draft LEP of 2009

Council has prepared a new draft LEP in line with the NSW Department of Planning's direction given in 2006 that all Councils must comply within 2-5 years.

The Draft LEP will replace Council's current Rural LEP 1987 and Urban LEP 1999.

The time for public submissions to the LEP has been extended until 24 July 2009

Council are requesting residents review the Draft LEP and make their submissions either online at their webpage or by mail.

To view the plan online click on this link

This Blog is set up for general discussion and feedback - Please direct ALL formal Draft LEP submissions to the Eurobodalla Shire Council before July 24th.

The Sandy Point Playground

Eurobodalla Shire Council undertook a rationalisation of playgrounds in Tuross in 2006 bringing the four playgrounds the village had down to two.

Manly Street Playground was removed as it was constructed primarily of treated timber which was identified as being hazardous. The swings, slippery dip and see-saw in Eva Mylott Park were removed however smaller Junior swings were reinstalled at the request of the community.

Having rationalised two of four Council then focused on the remaining two playgrounds of Evans Road Reserve and Sandy Point Reserve bringing the Evans Road Playground equipment up to a satisfactory standard and providing increased softfall of a more suitable material to the site.

The original Sandy Point Playground equipment (a double swing - Junior and Senior) was in poor condition and was removed. In its place Council erected the modular playground equipment that stands today.

There is strong opinion held in village of the equipment that was chosen for this playground. To many parents it is unusable by their toddlers as it demands hands on supervision in order to use each and all of the components and it is also deemed to be too advanced for most children under seven years of age.

Tuross parents are, however, making good use of the playground equipment at Evans Road Playground and are looking forward to the improvements that will be made to the immediate area in the way of toilet block improvements, access provision and a parents shelter.

Local Tuross parents are more often though, traveling to Moruya to take their children to the playground at Gundary Oval or Russ Martin Park which provide their children with the equipment available to assist their child's further physical development and co-ordination.

Council has now announced its intention to construct a regional playground at the entry to Riverside Park, Moruya aimed at incorporating natural elements and timber structures into a play scene for children where highlights of the playground will include hardwood timber based swings, totem poles and a “flying fox”.

By popular request this blog has been raised to allow local Tuross parents to communicate their opinion of the Sandy Point Playground Equipment to Council.