Geoff Pike, Ocean Beach Resident and Restoration Committee Chairman. |
Dear Friends of Bream Head,
I have a sense of quiet satisfaction about the progress and direction of the restoration process we are currently working through.
Apart from a couple of successful winter plantings and the putting out of a bush fire at Home Bay there has not been as much hands on, out door activity as we might like. But we are actually getting there. The most tangible event to encourage this state of mind was a recent door knock of the Ocean Beach and Urquhart Bay communities, with a list of specific questions regarding their feelings towards the proposed predator-proof fence project and its likely impact on them.
I was so uplifted with the generous response. Around 95% were very positive, with concerns limited to infrastructure issues.
It is often quite difficult to engage a community, especially if they basically feel comfortable with what you are doing; you call for a public meeting and few turn up. We all know what happens when they disapprove - you can hardly find standing room in the hall! For us though, it was necessary to get an accurate survey as part of the Social Effects Assessment (SEA) currently being professionally written by Bindy Caesar, a local consultant planner.
This SEA will form part of a more encompassing document known as an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE). The purpose of this is to ensure that we have truly looked at the over all effect that this project will have on ecology, landscape , physical and social environment, as well as the legal frame work in which we operate. It is expected that the AEE will be ready in draft form by the end of March 2006.
It seems to have taken a long time to get this far, but we are not constantly 'putting out fires' and I do believe that our pace has given people time to feel comfortable about the idea.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Restoration Committee whose work and commitment to the restoration project often goes beyond what one might expect of volunteers. We are fortunate to have this dedicated group working with us.
Thank you all for your membership and other support; please keep it up. Remember, the environment does not have a vote, and it is only with you support that real improvement can be made.
Merry Christmas,
Geoff Pike
Chairman
Restoration Committee
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