Business leaders have joined Parkrun and Marine Rescue in writing a letter to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in support of the southern breakwall upgrade.
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A copy of the letter was sent to the Port News, just days before the planned December 10 rally by "Save Our Breakwall" - the group opposed to the upgrade.
The letter's signatories are Business Port Macquarie, Business NSW, Marine Rescue Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie Parkrun and Birdon Marine.
It is reproduced in full, below:
Letter of Support for Port Macquarie Southern Breakwall Upgrade
We take this opportunity to extend our support for the proposed Port Macquarie Southern Breakwall Upgrade Project, to be completed in 2023 and fully funded by the NSW Government. We believe this is a crucial project for the region in both maintaining a critical maritime asset and will improve the public amenity of the Breakwall for both locals and tourists, support increased economic activity and add to community health and well-being.
The Port Macquarie Southern Breakwall is an iconic and loved treasure for the community; this is in addition to its primary purpose as a critical maritime asset that maintains a navigable entrance to the Hastings River for commercial and recreational purposes.
We have heard the community's feedback and concern over this work and believe these issues have all been addressed by the response of the Oepartment of Transport. In particular we note:
- Removal of trees - The 29 trees to be removed are all in the age range of approximately 25- 30 years, and only 18 of them are pines. The 29 trees slated for removal will be replaced by over 43 mature trees and around 6,000 additional native groundcover plants and grasses which will enhance the useability and amenity of the area.
- Impact on waves and surfing - independent experts have certified that there will be no impact from the works on the hydrodynamics (waves, tides, currents) at the breakwall head relative to that which has existed since the 2014 remediation works were carried out.
- Memorial rocks - it is noted that these are in a public place and were never meant to be permanent and we are satisfied that all that can be done to preserve their memory will be done.
- Fishing - while there will be some short-term impact during construction, fishers will be able to enjoy an enhanced fishing experience in the future from the improved amenity of a wider path.
- Increased access - the widening of the path will improve accessibility for the older members of our community as well as the disabled and allow the area to be shared by all residents and tourists equally.
We commend the State Government and the Council for the development of this project and look forward to it proceeding in 2023.
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