Small Water Craft Storage

Project Update

Stage 1: completed May 2017

Develop a Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS) Discussion Paper

Stage 2: completed Aug 2017

Public exhibition of the SWCSS Discussion Paper

Stage 3: completed Nov 2017

Review feedback and Report to Council

Stage 4: completed Feb 2018

Councillor Briefing

Stage 5: completed May 2018

Preparation of draft SWCSS

Stage 6: completed July 2018

Public exhibition of the Draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS) (3MB) closed on 3 July 2018.

Stage 7: feed back is currently being reviewed to be reported to Council in August 2018. 

Project Information

Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS)

Council is developing a Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS) to ensure that in the future, water craft stored on public land on the harbour foreshore are managed effectively and equitably, for the benefit of water craft owners, and for the convenience and enjoyment of the wider community who wish to access and use North Sydney’s foreshore parks for recreation.

The project is delivered in seven Stages:

Stage 1: Develop a Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS) Discussion Paper - completed May 2017

Stage 2: Public exhibition of the SWCSS Discussion Paper - completed August 2017

Stage 3: Review feedback and Report to Council - completed Nov 2017

Stage 4: Councillor Briefing – completed 19 February 2018

Stage 5: Publicise feedback and prepare a draft SWCSS

Stage 6: Public exhibition of the draft SWCSS

Stage 7: Review feedback, report to Council and finalise the SWCSS

Stage 1

In March 2016 Council resolved to undertake a full review of small water craft current and potential storage opportunities (both formal and informal) across the local government area, in order to determine a range of appropriate upgrading, improvement and new works, and to identify priority locations for storage.

Hayes Street Beach Small Private Water Craft Storage (4MB)

Stage 2

At its meeting of 22 May 2017, Council endorsed public exhibition of the Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper. The public exhibition period ran for a period of 10 weeks. 

Public exhibition of the Discussion Paper provided the many interested community members and other stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute ideas, and offer thoughts and suggestions about the future of small water craft storage in North Sydney.

Council recognises that the various groups and individuals involved in water-based recreation and use of public foreshore parks have different needs. People who commented on the SWCSS Discussion Paper included those who:

Store dinghies in one of Council’s formal storage facilities to access (RMS) swing moorings in the bays. Store dinghies informally on the foreshore to access (RMS) swing moorings in the bays. Store kayaks, SUP’s or other small water craft in one of Council’s formal storage facilities (only some of these are available to ‘non-dinghies’). Store kayaks, SUP’s or other small water craft informally on the foreshore. Store their water craft at home and transport it to and from the foreshore. Would like formal storage for their vessel, but are currently unable to get it due to lack of availability or cost. Use the foreshore for other forms of recreation.

By the time the public exhibition period concluded on 28 August 2017, a total of 40 submissions had been received.

Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper (3MB)

 

Stage 3

Once the public exhibition period closed, all submissions were reviewed, and a report to Council was prepared, detailing the content of all submissions. The report, Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper - Post Exhibition (1MB) was considered at the Council meeting held on Monday, 20 November 2017. The Report described measures taken to ensure that user groups and the general public were aware that the Discussion Paper was available for viewing and comment. It also summarised community and stakeholder feedback received according to 6 Key Themes:

Theme 1: Existing Informal Storage Sites Theme 2: Existing Formal Storage Facilities Theme 3: A One-Size-Fits-All Approach Theme 4: Registration Process for Water Craft Stored on Public Foreshore Land Theme 5: Additional Sites for Formal Storage Facilities Theme 6: Other Water-Based Recreation Opportunities & Issues

The report recommended:

THAT the information contained in this report be posted on the ‘Small Water Craft Storage’ page on Council’s website. THAT a draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy be prepared for public exhibition.

Council unanimously resolved the following:

THAT Council defer this item to a Councillor Briefing. THAT Council prepare a report for the Briefing which assesses the impact of the alienation of public open space for private use in the context of storing private water craft on public land.

Stage 4

A Councillor Briefing regarding the issue of small water craft storage on public foreshore land in North Sydney was held on Monday, 19 February, 2018.

At the Council meeting following this Briefing, a Mayor Minute regarding Hayes Street Beach was discussed. It was resolved:

THAT Council resolve to write to all permit holders advising them that their watercraft must be removed from the Hayes Street Beach by 31 August 2018. THAT Council staff prepare a report outlining work that would need to be done to improve access to and the amenity of the beach. THAT Council continue to develop a municipality wide small watercraft strategy. THAT Council engage with affected local owners of small watercraft regarding alternate storage options. THAT the frequency of beach cleaning be increased, particularly during the summer swimming season. THAT Council continue to lobby RMS for more frequent harbour cleaning in Neutral Bay.

Work will therefore proceed on the development of a draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy. When complete, the Strategy will be publicly exhibited and further feedback sought.

Stage 5

Council staff prepared a draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy, taking into consideration the feedback received on the Discussion Paper. Further feedback will be sought when the draft Strategy is publicly exhibited.

Stage 6

Public exhibition of the Draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy (SWCSS) (3MB) closed on 3 July 2018.

Next Steps...

Stage 7

Council staff are currently reviewing submissions, and feedback will be reported to Council, together with recommendations for amending the draft SWCSS to produce a final SWCSS.

Note: There will be further opportunities for the community and stakeholders to be involved in the implementation of the SSWCS as the individual actions set out in the Matrix section of the document are addressed in coming years.

 

Document Library

2018 Draft Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper (3MB)

Council report 20 November 2017 Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper - Post Exhibition (1MB)

Council report 22 May 2017 Public Exhibition of the Small Water Craft Storage Strategy Discussion Paper (4MB)

Council report 21 March 2016 Hayes Street Beach Small Private Water Craft Storage (4MB)

2006 Water Based Recreation Need Study  (315KB)

Background

Council's Recreation Needs Study 2015 identified that there was a high level of community demand for water-based recreation activities. It found there was a need to create opportunities for increased participation in water based recreation, including providing additional opportunities to store light vessels (boards, dinghies and kayaks) where possible.

Council currently has 8 formal storage facilities for small water craft.

With the exception of the dinghy racks in Kurraba Reserve, all these facilities are at capacity, and all have waiting lists.

In addition, the North Sydney foreshores are dotted with numerous dinghies, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUP’s). While this informal storage has been generally condoned as contributing to the character and diversity of the harbour foreshores, the dramatic increase in the number of water craft in recent years (due to increasing affordability of kayaks and SUP’s and the lack of formal storage facilities) has created a number of problems.

Publicly-owned open space around the foreshores of Sydney Harbour is not only in limited supply, but it is in high demand for a wide variety of recreational pastimes. While Council is committed to providing opportunities for water-based recreation around the harbour foreshore, including space and facilities where small water craft may be stored, Council’s primary obligation is to ensure the general public is able to access and use publicly-owned foreshore open space for general recreation purposes.

In March 2016 Council resolved to undertake a full review of small water craft current and potential storage opportunities (both formal and informal) across the local government area, in order to determine a range of appropriate upgrading, improvement and new works, and to identify priority locations for storage. The Discussion Paper is the result.

More Information

Megan White, Landscape Architect/Planner, 9936 8100