Point Plomer Rd closer to a sealed deal

Councillors moved a recommendation noting that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for the area and the sealing of the road will not have a significant impact on the environment.

Two sections of Point Plomer Rd, 6.2 kilometres in length, is maintained by Kempsey Shire Council and remains unsealed. At council's October 2018 meeting it was resolved that council would support the bitumen sealing of the gravel length of the road should the application for grant funding be successful.

A funding grant of $2.88 million was subsequently received under the Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund program in July 2019 for the bitumen sealing of Point Plomer Rd.

Since then, consultants have been engaged to undertake a survey of the road, prepare engineering design plans and carry out environmental investigations - culminating in a draft Review of Environmental Factors (REF) being prepared.

The environmental effects were assessed under Part 5 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Act requires council to examine and take into account to the fullest extent possible, all matters affecting or likely to affect the environment by reason of the activity.

The REF presented to council found that sealing the road will not have an environmental impact.

Councillor Dean Saul spoke in support of the recommendation, and said the project can now presson.

"It's a wonderful day because it means we are moving forward. This will allow the community to be included in the Point Plomer area and be able to travel there to experience all it has to offer," he said.

Mayor Liz Campbell said the recommendation was brought to councillors because there is significant talk on the issue.

"It's an important decision because of community interest. The recommendation is put to councillors and determines there is no significant impact on the environment," she said.

Dunghutti Elder James Dungay spoke at a public forum on Monday afternoon and said the Elders are concerned about future changes and development along the stretch of road.

"We are against the tarring as a preventative measure of over-development. We want to protect the area," he said.

"We also believe there hasn't been consultation with Dunghutti Elders about the tarring of the road."

Fred Andrews owns Wallum Cottages and is the president of the Crescent Head Residents and Ratepayers Association, and he said there is a group of people who believe tarring the road will impact the environment.

"An increased number of people means more rubbish and free campers in the area which will impact the environment. And the respect the Dunghutti people have for the land and sacred sites will be compromised by the tarring," he said.

Council's director Operations, Robert Fish, said there will be no design changes to the road in its current state and work will not impact surrounding areas.

"The design makes sure it wont encroach on coastal wetland areas," he said.

Cr Mark Baxter said the REF has ignited interest in ancient Dunghutti sites and he hopes it will encourage more people to learn the local Indigenous history.

"It has really ignited the interest of the sacred sites and to teach people about them which is a great side effect from this," Cr Baxter said.

General manager Craig Milburn said the issue of recognising and preserving sites of Aboriginal cultural significance was raised through the commissioning of advisors to the REF process and also by the community.

"A key action in council's Macleay Valley Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, adopted in 2019, is to work with stakeholders and agencies to facilitate the establishment of Indigenous business in the tourism sector, building on Indigenous cultural heritage," he said.

"Council recognises that the surrounding environment of Plomer Road is of high value and cultural significance for the Dunghutti people and the broader community.

"It was great to hear that the community would like to consider social enterprise opportunities in relation to these sites and we look forward to working with the community to further develop these ideas."

The decision to seal the road was largely based on enhancing road user safety given the high traffic volumes experienced along the road - particularly during holiday periods - and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

Preparation of the REF fulfills the requirement for council to examine and take into account to the fullest extent possible all matters affecting or likely to affect the environment by reason of the activity.

Determination that there is no significant environmental effect allows the project to proceed to the construction stage in accordance with the mitigation measures outlined within the REF.