8th March 2009
Ms Sally Barnes,
Deputy Director General,
Department for Climate Change and the Environment,
Level 30,
Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place
SYDNEY. NSW.
REF: MD08/4872 - Letter from Carmel Tebbutt Deputy Premier and Minister for the DECS.
Dear Ms Barnes,
On Monday 16th February 2009, at Pottsville, Mark Johnston DECC Alstonville, Leonie Walsh NPWS Murwillumbah, Geoff Richards President of the Pottsville Fishing Club and the Tweed Fishing Club Assn,, Merv McFie Treasurer of the NSW Fishing Clubs Assn, the NSW EcoFishers, Tweed EcoFishers and Pottsville Fishing Club, and myself, David Cranwell Spokesperson for the Tweed Heads Branch of EcoFishers, Tweed Heads Fishing Clubs Assn., and the Pottsville Fishing Club held a meeting .
The purpose of the Meeting was to discuss 4WD Vehicle Licensed Permit Holders access to the Intertidal area fronting the Wooyung Nature Reserve. We as a body have been seeking access since 2004, but the NSW Labor Govt., has ignored our objections and submissions and been determined to enforce their Plan of Management that denies this access, even though access has been available for the last 50 years with no damage being done to the area.
Mark Johnston pointed out that Nature Reserves are covered by Govt. Legislation and other Guidelines, such as the Coastal Management Plans, and we as a body acknowledge that we have been aware of this circumstances and that is why our correspondence since 2004 has been directed to the appropriate Minister in the Labor Cabinet, requesting that the Legislation be amended.
A further point raised was that it was necessary to have the Government in Power to be ?on-side? if any alteration to existing or proposed Legislation regarding Nature Reserves or other Marine Reserves would be considered. EcoFishers NSW is already aware of this situation, but unfortunately the NSW Labor Govt. appears to be doing everything it can to get fishing bodies ?off-side? by not listening to their concerns.
It is time Labor NSW started to listen to EcoFishers, the voice of Recreational Anglers in this State, because a failure to do this will result in our continuing dialogue with the Opposition Parties.
Our Members were extremely disappointed that the Deputy Premier was unable to come to the Tweed, because her understanding of the situation is only a Chronicle extract of the History on the Wooyung Reserve since 2004.
We appreciated the willingness of Mark and Leonie to meet with us and discuss our problem, but if the Govt. is not prepared to amend Management Plans to allow access to the Intertidal areas of the Reserve then nothing has been achieved.
A further submission detailing the reasons why we feel this matter should be given your urgent consideration is attached.
Yours Sincerely.
.
David Cranwell
Spokesperson,
EcoFishers Tweed Branch,
Tweed Fishing Clubs Assn.
Pottsville Fishing Club.
