CITY of Coffs Harbour will prepare a Vegetation Management Plan for the Jetty Foreshores precinct to inform all future revegetation works to be funded by Council’s Environmental Levy Reserve in 2025/26.
The decision was made at Council’s 28 August meeting, during a motion which outlined the successful applicants of Environmental Levy Grants Program funding.
As the motion was brought before councillors, Mayor Nikki Williams added an additional point, seeking to develop a Council plan for vegetation management at the Jetty Foreshores.
“I think it is really important, while Jetty Dunecare does a fantastic job… I’d like to see Council set out a vegetation management plan that is adopted by all of Council.
“It is important that we as a City are setting what happens down there, so Jetty Dunecare knows exactly where we are up to and what we want to do.”
After a question from Cr Jonathan Cassell, Council Acting General Manager Andrew Beswick stated he believed the plan would cost no more than $50,000 to create.
Mayor Williams said Council staff had been consulted on the issue, with Mr Beswick stating that the current plan of management for the Jetty Foreshores does not have a vegetation management plan associated with it.
Mr Beswick said the plan would cover the Crown Land areas that Council controls and that Jetty Dunecare’s knowledge and expertise would be utilised in its development.
Councillor Tony Judge spoke against the motion, questioning why councillors had not been briefed on the motion before the council meeting.
“Where have we had a chance to have a briefing to consider this properly?
“We have had literally minutes to consider spending $50k of public money.”
Cr Paul Amos also spoke against the motion, echoing Cr Judge’s concerns about the lack of due process.
The motion passed five votes to four, with councillors Williams, Cecato, Fowler, Oxford and Saro voting for and councillors Amos, Cassell, Judge and Sechi voting against.
The City of Coffs Harbour received 16 submissions for the 2025/26 Environmental Levy Grants Program, with 11 submissions recommended by the Environmental Levy Grants Program Panel to receive funding of $411,177 in total.
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