Central Coast Council is inviting local communities to provide feedback on proposed management actions for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program (CMP), as part of the third stage of community engagement for this program.

Community members can attend information pop-up events to learn more and give input or provide feedback online until 24 November 2024. 

The extensive Hawkesbury-Nepean estuary system spans the Greater Sydney and Hunter-Central Coast regions, with a large proportion of the study area within the Central Coast Local Government Area (LGA). This includes including Broken Bay, The Brisbane Water Estuary, Patonga Creek, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mangrove Creek and Mullet Creek.

Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Jamie Loader said Central Coast Council and five neighbouring Councils (including Hornsby Shire, Hawkesbury City, The Hills Shire, Ku-ring-gai, and Northern Beaches) are developing a coordinated estuary wide Coastal Management Plan for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, in conjunction with the support from the NSW Government.

“This Coastal Management Program will set a long-term strategy for the coordinated management of this coastal zone, with coastal management issues and opportunities affecting these areas identified and an action plan developed to address these in an integrated and strategic manner.

“This process is providing an opportunity for all councils involved, public authorities and local communities to identify and balance competing interests, issues, risks and priorities in the coastal zone.  We are confident this will ensure that the CMP reflects community values, with a shared sense of direction and facilitates mutual responsibility and collective action,” Mr Loader said.

The community input will be used to help identify, rank, and prioritise management actions for potential inclusion in the CMP.  As required by the NSW Coastal Management Manual, this community input will be used in conjunction with other assessment criteria including technical feasibility and financial viability.

Council CEO David Farmer said Council is encouraging anyone who is interested in, values, or uses the river system to have a say in how it is managed.

“Your voice really does matter in how we protect the waterways, and this third stage of engagement is a genuine opportunity for local communities to provide their suggestions and opinions regarding potential management actions,” Mr Farmer said.

“It is also important to note that an additional round of public feedback will also be sought when the draft Coastal Management Program report has been completed.  So, the community will get another opportunity to review the draft.”

There are 12 drop-in sessions being held at Hardys Bay, Umina, Patonga, Woy Woy, Phegans Bay, Erina Gosford. Wisemans Ferry, and Spencer.  

Learn more and provide feedback and ideas can also be given on-line by visiting yourvoiceourcoast.com by 24 November.