Brunswick Heads residents are concerned that Terrace Reserve Holiday Park managers are not following the court-ordered plans for the park, which could result in the closure of public access to the famous Brunswick River foreshore.
Reflections Holiday Parks, a state-owned company that runs the expansive riverside camping ground, is conducting compulsory work ordered by the Land and Environment Court in a judgment handed down on the 25th of May, a report said.
The ruling resulted from a long-running dispute that has been brewing between Reflections and Byron Council over the former’s proposed Plan of Management (PoM) for the southern part of the park.
There was a dispute about boundaries and the environmentally and historically significant Coastal Cypress Pine Forest community within the park that was being destroyed in the course of its operations.
The judge ordered Reflections to create a thorough Community Plan on the site, which defined carefully-delineated zones for camping and other areas to be secured as part of the settlement between the two parties
However, Foreshore Protection Group and Brunswick Heads Progress Association members say that the state-owned company has not adequately implemented the plan.
“We want the court orders implemented according to the law, not Reflections’ sub-standard, profit-seeking manner,” Michelle Grant from the Foreshore Protection Group said.
“We want Council to do its job as license provider and compliance officers and not turn a blind eye to what’s going on in our crown reserves.”
The residents‘ primary concern is the limitation of access to public property. Grant states that Reflections cannot ensure the existence of a three-meter buffer zone between the campground and Simpsons Creek, as set out in the court-sanctioned Community Plan.
This buffer zone is crucial for access by the public to the river. This includes the construction of a walkway for the people along the riverbank that residents claim is included in a variety of Council policies and plans.
“Our public walkway/buffer zone has been included in every Plan of Management (PoM) for Terrace Park since 2000,” Grant said.
“It was included in the 2014 PoM and in the revised 2017/18 concept drawings endorsed by BSC. Why should we miss out now?”
“Terrace Park remains the only section along the riverfront between the Bowling Club and Ferry Reserve that obstructs public access.”
Grant expressed that the Foreshore Protection Group and Brunswick Heads Progress Association had written to Council and Reflections management about this issue, as being concerned that fencing around a coast pine regeneration area was insufficient.
Cate Coorey, an independent Byron councilor and the mayoral aspirant, has proposed a motion to intensify Council examination of Reflections and ongoing projects.
The motion is scheduled to be presented at the next full Council meeting. The motion asks the staff to get in touch with Reflections management. They also stress that any plan for the park’s site should be interpreted using the minimum setbacks and buffers following the Land & Environment Court ruling.
It also seeks to create a new Community Plan that accurately depicts the exact minimum setbacks and buffers.
Yet, Reflections has consistently maintained that it adheres to the provisions of the court settlement and any other applicable policies and plans.
Council employees back this position in their reply to Cr. Coorey’s motion.
“Based on the available information, there appear to be no inconsistencies between the operational boundaries of the park outlined in the PoM and the approved community plan,” staff said.
In addition, the staff stated that there was no need for a public walkway along the shoreline in Simpsons Creek.