The Crescent Head Ratepayers and Residents Association (CHRRA) is organising a march to be held on the morning of Sunday January 13, to protest against Kempsey Shire Council’s (KSC) decision to go ahead with tarring Plomer Rd, if their application for a NSW Government grant is approved.
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The association claims there is strong opposition from local residents and business owners.
The march, to be held between Racecourse Headland and Big Hill, is being organised because of the decision by council, which is a complete reversal from when the matter was voted on in 2003.
At that time, a bid to tar Plomer Rd was stopped when information came to light about the region's rich heritage including significant Aboriginal sites.
Bob Mumbler, Chairman of the Dunghutti Elders Council (Aboriginal Corporation), in Kempsey, opposes development on the heritage rich land.
“Personally I don’t want any development out there – I’d like to see Limeburners National Park in the south overlap with Hat Head National Park in the North, and extend west to include the Maria River and Frogmore wetlands. Because I want my grandkids, and great grandkids to be able to see what I see today,” Mr Mumbler said.
Business owners Jane and Fred Andrews, who have been operating on Plomer Road since the early 1990’s, claim the majority of their guests appreciate the uniqueness of the region and don’t want to see the road tarred.
“We are tourism operators and not against appropriate development. By far the majority of our guests have let us know that one of the main reasons they come here is the unique nature of the area – with the dirt road adding to the feel of remoteness. Many say they feel their holiday starts as soon as they leave the bitumen,” Ms Andrews said.
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The CHRRA is appalled at the lack of consultation that KSC has undertaken.
“Previous agreements with council have been completely disregarded and no consultation has been undertaken with the local and Aboriginal communities, businesses or tourists except one extremely poorly written survey which had no bearing on the issues on Plomer Road,” a spokesperson from the CHRRA said.
“Although the community has attempted dialogue a number of times with the KSC, their questions have not been answered in any real way, with one Councilor even dismissing stakeholders as ‘Nimbys’.
“Residents are calling for the area surrounding Plomer Rd, an iconic dirt road that joins ‘The String of Pearls’ from Crescent Head to Point Plomer to be recognized by the Australian Heritage Council as a place of State Heritage, due to the large number of Dunghutti People Sacred Sites, endangered flora and fauna, and the cultural value of a pristine stretch of the coastline that harks back to a simpler time.”
The association believes KSC has lost the confidence of many Crescent Head ratepayers, who wonder what other issues may also be pushed through without the community’s input.
“Perhaps a boutique hotel in Crescent Head or a subdivision along the back road,” CHRRA spokesperson said.
The Association is calling on people who would share similar views on the unique area to join them at Racecourse Headland at 8:30am on Sunday January 13 where they will walk to Big Hill.
Cars will be provided to shuttle people back to their vehicles at Racecourse afterwards.
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