Help Us Improve Local Waterways

Moonee Creek, Coffs Creek and Boambee/Newports Creek Estuaries are significant coastal features and Coffs Harbour City Council wants to know what locals value about these waterways so we can help make them even better.

This community feedback will form an important part of a new Coastal Management Program (CMP), which has been funded through a grant from the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment. The Management Program will consider estuary and catchment health issues such as bank erosion, water quality, catchment and sediment inflows, as well as recreational amenity among other considerations.

We are encouraging residents to provide their comments and ideas via a survey which is open until 4 February 2021. The survey can be found on the Moonee Creek, Coffs Creek and Boambee/Newports Creek Coastal Management Program (Stage 1) page on Council’s Have Your Say website.

“The beauty of our local environment is a key part of what draws people to our region,” said Sharon Smith, Council’s Section Leader Local Planning.

“By putting well-researched strategies in place to protect important coastal features, we are not only safeguarding our environment, but also helping maintain the attractions that bring people here to live or visit.

“The key to ensuring the continued health and protection of these estuaries is to achieve a balance between the needs of the community and the environment – and that’s what the Management Program will seek to do.

“We’d like anybody who is interested in, values, or lives near these estuaries to have a say in their management. Of particular interest is knowing what people think is great about the estuaries and what would make them even better – and also what concerns do locals have and how could the overall management of the estuaries and catchment be improved?”

Council is working with specialist coastal management consultants on the development of the CMP, which will include key stakeholder, as well as further wider community consultation.