The picturesque beachfront at Wooli will soon receive further protection against erosion thanks to the Nationals in NSW Government’s $50000 in funding to Clarence Valley Council (CVC) as part of a coastal management initiative.
Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis made the announcement at a small ceremony in Wooli on July 30 and said the funding will allow CVC to scrape Wooli Beach sand and move it for dune nourishment, building on the success of the 2019 campaign which shifted nearly 15000m3 of sand from the intertidal zone to where it was needed to reduce vulnerability during storms.
Mr Gulaptis and Bruce Bird, President of Wooli’s Coastal Community Protection Alliance agreed the Wooli community, Council and NSW Government have found a way to work together successfully.
“This teamwork continues to deliver the joint funding and effective plans that will go on protecting Wooli in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way,” they said.
“The Wooli community has been proactive in nourishing the beach and protecting its primary asset, and they’ve been able to use nature to support the beach environment rather than have nature work against them so it’s a terrific concept.”
Mr Gulaptis said placing additional sand in at the southern end of Wooli village will reduce the vulnerability during future storms.
CVC Mayor Jim Simmons said Council was proud of its partnership with the NSW Government which is funding this project as well as a $60000 scoping study for the Clarence River and a $240000 grant for Council to work on the next three steps of its Coastal Management Plan.
“This includes developing a risk assessment, examining options and engaging stakeholders before finalising coastal priorities for Clarence Valley and the local community,” Mr Simmons said.
“Protecting the region’s natural assets is important to the people of the Clarence Valley.
“This funding will enable us to better plan for any impacts and changes that may be occurring in the estuaries and along our coastline, while creating a management plan to help protect vulnerable coastal communities such as Wooli.”
The total funding of $350000 is from the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary’s Grants Program which, Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said was all about ensuring the state’s enviable coastlines are protected now and into the future.
“The aim of the program is to increase the resilience of coastal communities and implement actions that improve the health of the NSW coastline,” Mrs Hancock said.
“This grant joins a further $215000 in grant funds awarded to Clarence Valley Council since 2016.”