On the third of April 2008 we posted the article "CRA Apology" in that article we stated that it seems we can do just about anything we like in a marine park, without even the need for a permit or development application. For more detail and to view the photo's that prompted the article be sure to click the link above.

The very next day we were contacted by Dr Trevor Daly from NSW Department of Primary Industries informing us of what action was to be taken and asking us to inform the public that legal action would be taken and in his words, So, no you can't just do what you want in a waterway or marine park without consequences! We promptly obliged and wrote this and included Dr Daly's email.

Now fast forward to August 2009. After not hearing any more about the matter for almost a year and a half CRA members decided to visit the site again and were surprised to see work continuing and that the construction of a landing is now well under way.

Here are some of the recent photos.

 Dr Daly (DPI) has been contacted for an update. Below is the email corespondence:

Jack Tait wrote: 24/08/2009 08:40 PM     Hi Trevor, On the 3rd of April 2008 you sent CRA an E-mail in regards to illegal works located on an unnamed tributary on the Clyde River (Downstream of Currowan Creek). You stated that DPI was preparing a prosecution on the owner for breaches of the Fisheries Management Act. You also stated that the Eurobodalla Shire Council DECC/EPA were also taking legal action. Could you please update CRA on what has taken place in regards to this matter. Regards, Jack Tait, President CRA. —————————————————————————————————— — On Fri, 4/9/09, Trevor Daly wrote:       Hi Jack     DECC and MPA ended up doing the running on this so I'll check with them and get back to you soon.     Thanks     Trevor     Dr Trevor Daly     Fisheries Conservation Manager – South Coast  ————————————————————————————————— — On Tue, 8/9/09, Trevor Daly wrote: Hi again Jack I've spoken to our Fisheries officers and confirmed that we have also completed legal action on this matter. In addition to the action by Marine Parks Authority, DPI Fisheries also issued the property owner with a total of $2,000 in fines and several cautions for offences under the Fisheries Management Act related to dredging and reclamation, blocking fish passage and harm to marine vegetation (seagrass) without approval. If you need more info pls contact me. Thanks Trevor ————————————————————————————————– —– Forwarded by Trevor Daly/DII/NSW on 08/09/2009 01:02 PM —– Trevor Daly/DII/NSW 08/09/2009 12:08 PM  Hi Jack I've now spoken to DECC staff dealing with this matter. The Marine Parks Authority (DECC) issued the property owner with a Clean Up Notice (under the POEO Act) in 2008 to undertake extensive creek rehabiliation works (put in sediment controls to stop pollution of the creek from bare soil, planting of grass cover, put snags back in creek which were removed and replace a couple of illegal road crossings with a fish friendly crossing). We were involved in drafting this notice and the design of new crossing to make sure it addressed all the fisheries issues. The cost of doing this work would have been thousands of $$$. Apparently all the works have now been done and agency staff (including me) will be doing a follow up inspection soon to make sure the site has been fully rehabilitated. Hopefully this will be a lesson to any other local property owners who might be thinking about clearing along creeks or rivers adjacent to their land. If you or any of the Coastal Rights Association members hear about construction works in or next to waterways on the south coast pls contact me or your local Fisheries office and we will check it out. Give me a call if you need any further information. Thanks Trevor

Here at CRA we call it as we see it and in this case it appears that if you pay a $2000 fine, you can clear 20 to 30 Hectares if not more and ALSO build yourself a brand NEW LANDING in the process. Note the NEW DECKING TIMBER and the newly placed pylons in the RIVER.

Seems a small price to pay for getting through a project that would most likely never be approved through the proper channels.

But whatever you do DON'T go into a Sanctuary zone to catch a feed of fish that will cost you a HELL of a lot more. 

With developments like this going ahead, how do Marine Parks protect the environment??

I will leave the decision up to you.

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ABC Canberra interviews Bob Kearney on Marine parks.

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On the 7th of December Professor Bob Kearney appeared on the 2KY radio program "High-Tide", to discuss the call by environmental group, "National Parks Association" for more marine parks in New South Wales.

You can listen to the recording below.

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News Release December 19th, 2008

Marine group awarded grant to work with Batemans Marine Park

Eurobodalla’s Nature Coast Marine Group has been awarded a Caring for Our Country Community Coastcare grant to work with the Batemans Marine Park.

The grant will allow the marine group to continue working with Batemans Marine Park researcher Dr. Melinda Coleman in assessing how effective the park’s zoning is for shallow subtidal flora and fauna.

The program has been running for a year and has already provided valuable information about fish, invertebrates and seaweeds living on very shallow rocky reefs that are rarely studied.  

Dr Melinda Coleman and Dr Brendan Kelaher from the Batemans Marine Park designed the monitoring program for the Nature Coast Marine Group snorkelling volunteers.

Dr Coleman said the program had to be “scientifically rigorous while still being achievable” for the community group members who only had minimal training.

She said the program involved training days, the production of “cheat sheets” with photographs of commonly seen species, as well as workshops to help with species identification.

Dr Coleman said new volunteers of all ages and abilities were always welcome.

 “Many new volunteers begin by counting easily identified species such as black sea urchins or turban snails.  We won’t drop you in the deep end!”

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Following the release of the NPA's outrageous and unwarranted wish list for more NSW Marine Parks, ABC's Sophie Longden has done a series of interviews on the South East Morning Show.

If you missed them you can listen below.

The first includes the views of NSW Deputy Premier & Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbut; Chairman of Twofold Bay Fishing Co-op, Fritz Drenkhan; University of Canberra, Professor Robert Kearney; and Marine Programs Officer of the National Parks Association, Nicky Hammond.

 and the second a few days later is with Batemans Marine Park manager Dr Brendan Kellaher

Join in the comments in the forum 

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