Debate rages on foreshore dilemma | Fraser Coast News | Local News in Fraser Coast

Climate change science says the foreshore may be eroded, including freak storm events over the next 50-100years. Sensible management of well signaged public areas (for safety), together with community beautification projects (incl. a plan for ongoing maint.) may do it, but don't fight nature (some projects may be swallowed by the sea). Let us working with, and for, Nature. Science has a long history of explaining nature to us. We need each other.

Great to see the true lovers of Hervey Bay taking a stand. If you want to sit on your "expensive" properties, sipping your cocktails looking out over the ocean MOVE TO THE GOLD COAST!
Our foreshores are natural and a beautiful part of Australia. We recently visited the Sunshine Coast, re-tracing our footsteps of some 20 odd years ago. We didn't recognise the place and the once beautiful hills surrounding Sunshine Beach are now concrete cubicals. Leave our foreshores as they are of move if you don't like it!!

I agree with both removing/relocating the caravan parks and cleaning up the foreshore - get rid of all the rubbishy undergrowth and hiding places for rats, snakes and feral humans. Selectively cull the trees. I think good models for our foreshore are Cottesloe Beach in Perth (near the Tea House) and Glenelg in Adelaide, using the best of the existing native trees instead of the Norfolk Island Pines at those other locales.

An interesting article this one, the Chronicle has highlighted the debate that exists between the Hervey Bay community, investors both local and from other areas, business, students and many more, but the behind the scene detail is missing.
I hate to say this, but once again, it is the community fighting against that tyrant known as the All Mighty Dollar!
Investors want the foreshore to be fake and easy for people to access, coffee on every corner and basically anything which will guarantee tenancy in their investment, or add value to their properties, business's want more people and more business and well the council, it just wants an excuse to make us pay higher rates I reckon!
And what makes this worse, is when an all mighty storm comes and washes away the foreshore they will all want each other to pay for the repair and maintenance, which in turn will be passed onto the people that use it, ie us!
Simple concept people, and society has known it for years, if you build on the sand dunes, the integrity of the beach is compromised, erosion will occur no matter what, but without the depth of the dunes to replace lost sand and to hold vegetation together until more sand is washed into the beach then we are fighting a loosing battle.
Mother nature will not be conquered by man, we may exploit her and make money from her, but when she decided to reclaim the beach, she will, so why don't we simply play along with her, leave the foreshore alone, in fact take measures to help refurbish lost sand, assist vegetation growth and hope that she decides not to reclaim the esplanade and all your fancy investment properties and business's!!!!

Unfortunately, approx. 60 people at a public meeting doesn't quantify what the majority of people want. The mongrel jungle which periodically collects rubbish, is a potential danger for an assault to occur, and with intelligent assessment from an outside body, the undergrowth & trees which are pushing into other trees could be removed or pruned. Strange how the two caravan parks have little vegetation on the seaside, also why is the large cotton tree in Scarness Park pruned to head height (shouldn't it be allowed to thicken to protect our foreshores?) When you compare Noosaville foreshore/Bargara foreshore, The Strand at Townsville, we are light years behind.
I am willing to bet, that in the future when our population has doubled, existing Councillors have moved on or retired, sensible debate will evolve, and something will occur that people of the Bay can be proud of.

Hervey Bay is best appreciated from the beach itself where the trees form a lovely natural fringe which holds the sand and provides a habitat for the remarkable bird life which is the true tourist attraction of Hervey Bay. The members of the public who attended the meeting overwhelmingly defended the existing trees and the natural unspoiled beauty of the foreshore.

Many of us walk along the beach every day. We see its moods and seasons and we love it. The trees are its crowning glory.

Some of the proposed "improvements" aroused the derision and anger of most of those present. One splendid associate of the great Jack Mundey who saved much of Sydney from vulgar exploitation, was particularly warmly applauded.

Those of us who love Hervey Bay because of the present foreshore are terribly afraid of those who would tart it up for quick profit. Leave it alone!

Your report over-dramatises a civilised meeting by quoting the only uncouth comment made by a member of the audience. After the guest speakers, one of whom may have raised hackles (but not heckles), many of the audience expressed their views and there was a clear majority in favour of leaving the wooded part of the Esplanade alone. The trees screen out traffic noise from the beach and the vista they provide has few equals in an Australian city. Why anyone would want to replace this with a barren pseudo-Waikiki like Cottesloe or Glenelg is beyond imagining.

However, the trees and the shrub layer (pace, Cr Brooks) confer more than aesthetic benefits on Hervey Bay. Their roots hold the sand in place and stabilise the dunes. A member of the audience gave a telling account of vast sand blows that used to happen before the dunes were fully vegetated. The dunes are also a vital barrier to storm tides which could flood the land south of the Esplanade. This is considerably below the level of the dunes. That's why the sea isn't always visible from the path or the road. Those who complain about this should emulate the young women in your picture and walk down one of the many paths to the beach.

Relief maps and tide surge maps on the council’s web site provide the facts.

Why on earth would we want to destroy the character of Hervey Bay? One of my favourite past times is to stroll along the esplanade walkway, through the shade of trees and then lay on the beach in privacy. If it turns into concrete and cafes we are going to turn into slaves of the tourism trade!

I have recently been to Europe to some of the known package holiday destinations which started out just like Hervey Bay. Now all they consist of are 10 storey apartments lining the coast, heartless cafes, rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish! It's appalling. Like other people have mentioned if that is what people want - head to the Gold Coast.

Don't ruin the tranquility of Hervey Bay, please leave it alone!

Please let common sense prevail and have a sensible debate.
"Natural" areas like the Hervey Bay foresore need sensible management to keep them under control and to maintain sea defences but for heaven's sake do not destroy a unique local asset.
It amazes us Brits that you Aussies despite all your talk of protecting your beautiful environment constantly do your best to pave it over.
On our last trip we started In Hervey Bay and after "doing" southern NSW and Victoria flew all the way back again for another week because we loved it so much!

I am sorry to say this, but whatever comes out of the foreshore debate, changes "will" occur, possibly in 10-20 years time, when some of us won't be here anymore. Population will have doubled. The Esplanade will not be able to handle the increased volume of traffic. We may have to have traffic lights, or make the Esplande "one way" movement in certain locations, possibly add more traffic calming devices, eg speed humps, or even consider making certain areas where the public gather to shop, eat, etc - into "pedestrian only areas", where the roadway is removed & replaced with grass/trees for shade, parking indentations at either end for "delivery vehicles only". Other ways of dealing with increased vehicular movement would be the introduction of parking meters, to ensure a "turn-over" of usage in that location. The council, who ever that may be, will have to consider other options to cater for the expected population increase in the Bay. The last thing we want is a "vast suburbs spreading out." Imagine the pressure that will be place on foreshore usage, perhaps then they have to consider removing the two Caravan Parks to make way for "public usage"

The community debate that has ensued from the USQ forum is much needed. Unfortunately debates tempt participants to take such polar extreme views, with participants often closing their ears and minds to the views of others. Come on... dare to consider the needs of other community members, those 25 yr old physiotherapists who work at our local hospital, the nurses, the teachers posted to our region, local business owners, 40 yr olds looking for jobs, 18 yr olds looking for trades. I don't know about you..... but when I have cardiac issues, neurological needs, or having a stroke I want specialists to be attracted to living and working in this area. This is not only about the Esplanade, this is about the surburbs of Fraser Coast. So when you take your extreme views like" if you don't like it leave....or leave it alone" look for the middle ground. Very few in this debate who are suggesting development are calling for demolition of planned vegetation, removing green belts. So far the suggestions have been about enhancing areas already cleared, and looking at possibilities for the Esplanade (road side). When the needs of all community groups are considered and embraced, that community becomes sustainable and flourishes. So as the debate continues I look forward to hearing from all groups, and just because one view is the loudest it doesn't mean it should prevail. I look forward to hearing from our elected councillors and mayor. Where was the Mayor on the USQ forum, I did not see or hear the thoughts of our elected leader? Your welcome Mick to enter anytime and make your position known!

just get rid of the weeds and plant more trees especially where some idiot poisoned them. If people want uninterrupted views of the ocean (without trees and parks) tell them thats what the concrete jungle called the gold coast is for. The caravan parks are fine too. There are criminals every where it has nothing to do with the state of the foreshore but harsher sentencing would help

MBM223 - nice to see someone else who speaks with common sense on the foreshore debate. No one speaking at the Foreshore Meeting pushed for high rise etc, just common sense in cleaning up & improving the vegetation along the foreshore & looking at its future usage. I know of a small number of people who constantly walk this strip picking up rubbish, the majority don't. I also feel that we "all" need to compromise on these foreshore issues, without reverting to redneck replies re high rise, concrete jungle etc.
When I look at historical photos of H/Bay, it has been constantly changing over the years, and will continue to change in the future. We can't live in the past, as some wish to do. So I agree with you, we need sensible planning to address all our existing & future problems, eg. hoons on the Esplanade, increased traffic & pedestrian usage now & in the future.

The foreshore of Hervey Bay is unique and should be preserved but I believe that the opposite side of the road with the shops etc. desperately needs a facelift as long as
new buildings have a fair hight restriction to maintain the existing warm atmosphere of the bay.
Richard

rchrdwhite - The height restriction of high rise along the Esplanade was set by Council some time ago, and I think everyone would agree with their decision.
I think the organisations that planned the Foreshore Meeting, was to get "sensible" thinking & planning started within the general community, as to what should be done, both to the foreshore vegetation, but also to the Esplanade/Foreshore areas when this City starts to get expansion growth "pains". The Council & the residents need to have VISION & PLAN of what will happen in the not so distant future. Unfortunately, we can't live in the past, it just doesn't happen. Some would like H/Bay to be a backwater town of Qld, with high umeployment, etc. One person at the meeting, said they wanted to "blow up all the existing high rise" another said, " We don't want restaurants with flashey food, just plain cheap food". Then there was another person who said, people come to the Bay to sit on balcony of the high rise, drinking to get drunk, we don't want them" - that will give you an idea of some of the strange comments that came out of this meeting.
We need to an Esplanade that is dynamic, and we desperately need people in the planning that are "visionaries" not negative people.

Regarding the Foreshore Debate in FCC on 28/11/09. Why is that so many tourists travel to the Fraser Coast? If our tourists really wanted to see concrete jungles then why do they spend money to come here.

If the tourists really wanted to see more concrete then they could visit places like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong or anywhere else in the world for that matter, however they come here to the Fraser Coast to see our lovely area.

My husband and I travelled to Europe in 2007, we saw the concrete jungles on the foreshores of Nice and Marseilles, we even see them in Australia, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are prime examples.

Lets not bow to the pressures of those who'd like to change our lovely foreshore or those who would kill the trees for want of a better view. Lets leave well enough alone and enjoy, what I believe to be one of the only places in the world that has a wonderfully natural and unspoilt foreshore.

It's all ours so why not enjoy what we have, "Wonderful Hervey Bay".