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Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park - Friday, 12 May 2006
 

The Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park Draft Zoning Plan has been released for public comment. You can pick up a copy of the Plan at all Great Lakes Tourism Visitor Centres. Further information on the Plan and the Marine Park in general can be found at www.mpa.nsw.gov.au

 

The boundary for the Park extends (in a southerly direction) from Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club near Forster to Birubi Beach Surf Life Saving Club at the northern end of Stockton Beach.

 

The Marine Park extends from the mean high water mark offshore to the three nautical mile limit of NSW waters. It includes Port Stephens and the Karuah River, the Myall River, Myall and Smiths Lakes and all of their creeks and tributaries to the limit of tidal influence. The Marine Park does not include Wallis Lake.

 

There is a 3 month period for comment so should you have any interest in the Park and/or concerns as to how it will affect your business – positive and negative I urge you to take this opportunity to make comment.

What can I do in a marine park?
Marine parks in NSW are multiple use. This means that existing activities apart from mining is permitted in marine parks. Unlike Victorian Marine National Parks the introduction of a NSW marine park does not mean that you cannot fish or undertake other activities in the entire marine park.

Only areas of significant conservation value are generally closed to extractive activities such as fishing and collecting. The NSW Marine Parks Authority encourages sustainable use, appreciation and enjoyment of the marine environment.

The area within NSW marine parks can be divided into four different zone types (see below), depending of the level of environmental protection required.

Can I still fish in a marine park?
All NSW marine parks provide for fishing. Fishing activities are regulated by zoning and operational plans. However, fishing is not permitted in sanctuary zones. When visiting marine parks, be sure to familiarise yourself with the local rules so that you can make the best from your visit. Remember in NSW, while fishing, bag limits apply and recreational fishers require a licence from NSW Fisheries.

Vessel based fishermen can travel through sanctuary zones to get to a fishing location as long as their fishing gear is “stowed”.

Major Development proposed a brewery development next the Bulahdelah Golf Club - to see the full proposal click here. 

 

Semi-trailers on a horse & buggy track Photo taken 27th May 2005, on the narrow bends 3 km's north along The Lakes Way from the Pacific Hwy turnoff. Note the dual wheel tracks hard against the safety fence. The drop over the edge is fairly steep.

 

Bulahdelah Forestry Office has been a vital part of the town since the end of World War II. Bulahdelah is on the verge of a new era in Tourism.

Realising that Forestry has played such a vital role in the history of our town, the powers that be should now focus on using the Forestry Office for tourism as well as it's existing role of maintaining the timber industry.

Dept. of Primary Industries in it's restructure should consider the enormous benefits of forests to the masses, those people who live in the concrete jungle in rows of shelves in the 'big smoke'.

Our State Government should be long sighted enough to oversee the transition of our Forestry Office into new initiatives incorporating tourism.

Please let us know what you think????

 

Thrifty Link Hardware has changed hands again. Brad Allen and Chris Mason have taken over the store from 1st May 2005. Opening times will remain at Mon-Fri 7-5; Sat 7-1; Sun 7.30-12

 

Giant Parramatta Grass in Myall River Park, just below the Courthouse. A highly invasive weed that needs to be brought control quickly to avoid it spreading.

Goats on Alum Mountain. A dozen or so goats escaped from the Bulahdelah Central School Ag enclosure in 2004. It seems that they chose to dwell on the nearby mountain which is ideal goat habitat. Goats delight in being able to climb. Unfortunately the goats are doing untold damage to the fragile plant life on the Alum Mountain, their droppings are found in the high and inaccessible regions, on the summit and in the one cave that our reporter inspected. The herd of nine in the photo is just one of a number of herds plundering the area. 

The Unspoilt Escape is the current area promotion theme. Debate is currently in process by the Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce over the theme. According to the poll experts the word 'Myall' is more recognized by our city cousins than any other in relation to our area, so the question of whether 'Myall' can somehow be incorporated into the promotion theme is causing concern. Are there any suggestions out there???

Seal Rocks is another name that rings a bell to many overseas visitors as well. For the purists, it is regretful that the development of Boat Beach properties is changing the fishing village atmosphere of Seal Rocks forever. It is understood that a developer has purchased a large slice of 'native title land' from the aborigines for future subdivision, which appears to be the thin end of the wedge.

Football

A reliable source has reported that the "Woodchoppers" are in the process of establishing a team for the 2005 season.

The organisation is looking for sponsors to the tune of about $15000 with which to fund the estimated cost of getting the side up and running. From then on the club would more or less fund itself.

Further details will be given as they become available.

 

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