Summary. Long-term shoreline recession, a rising sea level and the low, narrow dune barrier at Boundary Creek present a beach erosion hazard that has been re-examined and upgraded in this study. It is predicted that by 2050–2100 there will be no front dune left, greatly increasing the risk of sea water flooding during extreme erosion events. Despite this hazard being documented in a 2003 report to Ballina Shire Council, it is not recognised in any planning documents. In particular, the State Government has not to-date published the necessary State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018 Coastal Vulnerability Area Map for NSW. Recognising that planning for coastal hazards can impose additional development controls that can negatively affect development potential and land values, concerns are raised about the almost two year delay for adopting the Coastal Vulnerability Area Map and the failure to recognise as yet undeveloped coastal hazard areas.

Council’s response. None. They must be hoping that these difficult land use planning and management issues will go away.

The State Government’s response. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment responded in April 2020 that it is the consent authority’s responsibility (i.e. usually Council) to consider risk of a coastal hazard and that Councils are responsible for identifying and managing coastal hazards. As usual with Government bureaucracies, it seems that nobody then is responsible for anything.

Download the report: SEPP_CM_2_CDNInc200309v1

Summary. This study mapped coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests on the South Ballina peninsula, New South Wales. It was estimated that at least 173 Ha of coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests are missing from the State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018 Coastal Wetlands and Littoral Rainforests Area Map. Recognising that State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018 can impose additional development controls on coastal land that can negatively affect development potential and land values, as well as facilitate merits appeals against development consents, concerns are raised about the motivation for Ballina Shire Council and the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to apparently ignore coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests in the southern half of Ballina Shire.

Council’s response. Council responded in October 2019 that SEPP 14 (Coastal Wetlands) applied for the Lake Ainsworth foreshore redevelopment and was considered in the assessment.

The State Government’s response. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment responded in December 2019 that the missing wetlands and littoral rainforests areas were not identified by SEPP 14 (Coastal Wetlands), SEPP 26 (Littoral Rainforests), subsequent updates or by Council. The Department indicated that it will continue to work with Council to improve the Coastal Wetlands and Littoral Rainforests Area Map.

Download the report: SEPP_CM_1_CDNInc191005v3

Download the shapefiles: SBwetlands_v1_190814