2015-04-28 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  28 APRIL 2015


9    WEYBA CREEK ESPLANADE - BANK EROSION

Author            Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast), Jan Maddin
                  Planning and Infrastructure

Index             ECM/ Project/ Weyba Creek – Bank Erosion Restoration

Attachments       1.   Project News factsheet – Bank Stabilisation, Weyba Creek
                  2.   Invitation Community Information Session – Bank Stabilisation,
                       Weyba Creek


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Infrastructure &
Services Committee Meeting dated 28 April 2015 regarding the outcomes of the community
consultation process on the Weyba Creek Bank Stabilisation project and:
A.   Adopt Option 2 as outlined in the report as the preferred way forward; and
B.   Amend the funding of this option as part of the 2015/16 Capital Program Budget process.



REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide feedback to Council on the comments received from
residents regarding the proposal to undertake bank stabilisation and construct an access
structure to Weyba Creek at the former rope swing area. Comments received indicate a lack of
support from local residents for the proposed construction of a recreational/fishing structure at
this location.

The structure was intended to provide a recreational alternative to the rope swings in lieu of their
ongoing removal; whilst the adjacent areas were closed off for rehabilitation.

The feedback regarding the structure was received from residents following distribution of the
Project News factsheet (see Attachment 1) in December 2014; and more recently at the
Community Information Session (see Attachment 2) conducted onsite at Weyba Creek
Esplanade in March, 2015.

The Information Session confirmed that although some residents would like the rope swings to
remain and consider the bank erosion and risk to public safety and Council to be very low; most
residents would like to see the degraded areas rehabilitated, but do not support construction of a
recreational/fishing structure at this location.

Residents state that since the rope swings were removed last November and continue to be
removed on a regular basis, they have enjoyed a reprieve from groups of young adults acting
antisocially who previously frequented the area on a regular basis.

This situation has created a more peaceful neighbourhood and children returned to play in the
area. Residents indicated these antisocial young adults were not backpackers and the large
groups of backpackers visiting the area (previously reported to Council as being a major issue of
concern) were considered well behaved by comparison.


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