Lake Illawarra Entrance Works Project (Stage 2)

 

Minutes of Community Liaison Group Meeting No. 2
held on Thursday, 29 June 2006

 

Meeting opened 5.15 pm

 

Present:

John Dengate - Chairman	Shaun Reason -Windang Beach Tourist Park
Clr John Leedham - Shellharbour City Council	Justin Kennedy - Dept of Commerce
Ron Hales - LIA	Chris Brandis - IBOC
Leon Cicolini - Community	Alan Beveridge - Warilla Surf Life Saving Club
Bob Prospero - SLIAG	Craig Rogers - Director, Coastwide Civil
Barry Hennessy - Community	Michael Wooley - URS Australia
Mike Malone - Wollongong City Council	Garry Clarke - Dept of Natural Resources
Doug Prosser - LIA	Shirley Massey - Commercial Fishers
Michael Westra - Wavesailors

 

Apologies: Greg Amadio, Wayne Lenardon, Tony McCabe, Bob Rawlinson, Bill Young, Garth Bridge.

 

 1. Introductions & check in

Michael Westra (Wavesailors and Surfers) introduced himself and briefly explained his group’s interest in the entrance works. Concerned about the height of the walls and impact on wave sailing activities. Expect new walls however will improve surfing conditions.

 

Each attendee checked in with a comment re their feelings on progress to-date.

 

2. Previous minutes

Noted that Garth Bridge was omitted from meeting 1 minutes - to be added

 

Q. Will the extension of the groyne at Elliot (Little) Lake be done as part of this activity and be completed prior to beach nourishment works commencing?

 

A. Garry Clarke advised that the work at Elliot Lake is being funded as part of a separate NSW Government grant to Shellharbour City Council. A decision will be made soon as to whether or not the work will be completed as part of the current entrance contract or managed by the council. Depending on timing, the groyne may be completed before beach nourishment works begin.

 

Doug Prosser moved that minutes be accepted.

 

3. Project update - Garry Clarke (DNR) and Craig Rogers (CWC)

 

Rock structures

• The Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) has been signed-off by the Department of Planning and all other required approvals are in place. The environmental management representative (EMR) will assess performance against the CEMP on an ongoing basis.

 

The CEMP will be put on the LIA’s entrance activity website.

 

• Signs explaining the work will be erected shortly at three locations:
  • Entrance to haul road - north side.
  • Reddall Parade - near kiosk, and at  eastern-end car park on southern side.
• There was an on-site announcement by Minister Campbell on 22 June 2006, with a symbolic placing of the first rock and appropriate media coverage.
• Coastwide Civil has commenced work. GPS tracking is being used in the construction equipment to guide the work.
• Excavation is underway for the initial section of the northern wall, with excavation depth of about 2-2.5 metres.
• Both breakwaters will be built simultaneously, with rock being imported as required from the quarry stockpile and Dunmore Tip.

 

Dredging and beach nourishment

• LIA is currently finalising the contract, intending to call for tenders in July, award the tender in September, and commence work in November 2006. The channel length is to be extended upstream by about 300 metres to Berageree Island from that shown in the EIS (dates are indicative at this stage).

 

Q. What is the final channel width?

 

A. Garry Clarke advised that due to the extension of length channel to be dredged, it was anticipated that some reduction in width may be required ie from 100 metres to approx 75 metres. Recent calculations by the design consultant indicate an 100-metre wide channel can be maintained providing the side batters are steepened and reduced in width. The amount of sand to be removed remains at 200,000 cubic metres.

 

Doug Prosser advised that as experienced with dredging the channel for the southern breakwater, the sand mass east of the bridge is extremely mobile.  Therefore channel widths and depths may vary after the initial dredging is complete.

 

Q. Where will the sand go?

 

A. Garry Clarke advised the sand from the current excavation for rock placement will be redistributed around the wall area and Perkins Beach dune. All the dredged sand from the channel will be pumped to Warilla Beach along the seawall.

 

Q. Warilla Beach is hosting a State wide surf carnival on 4^th November, and a large South Coast carnival on 5^th November 2006. Discharge of sand to the beach area during this time may adversely effect carnival activities.  Alan Beveridge asked if this could be considered with regard to the dredging and associated pumping for beach nourishment.

 

A. Garry Clarke advised the LIA will add that requirement to the contract, to ensure minimal impact.

 

Alan Beveridge to provide a letter to the LIA by 7^th July 2006, outlining the Surf Club’s requirements with respect to the carnivals.

 

Q. What access is available to the construction area?

 

A. Craig Rogers advised that access is restricted to the whole construction area- designated by the orange fences- to ensure safety to the public.  This is a strict Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) requirement.

 

Q. How far does the wall extend offshore?

 

A. Garry Clarke advised approximately 200 metres. The artist impression sent with last minutes shows more sand than is currently the case – shows the expected build-up of sand over time against the outer edge of the northern wall.

 

Q. What work is occurring on weekends?

 

A. Craig Rogers advised that work will be limited to  Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm.  There will be no transport of rock on weekends.

 

4. Environmental performance - Garry Clarke and Craig Rogers

• Noise levels are being monitored routinely at selected locations- truck and equipment.  Results so far show:
  • Trucks- highest reading 75 dB (at 5m distance)
  • Machinery- highest 85 dB (at 5m distance)
  • Pump- approx 70 dB. A physical barrier (sand wall) is also being used. Pumps are being run 24hrs to keep the excavation dry for the initial wall construction across the sand. Delays would be experienced unless the 24 hr pump operation is maintained.
  • Back ground noise level taken at the site at 4pm on 29/6/06- approx 60 dB
  • Noise level criteria at nearest residence is to be 57 dB (approx 300m from work site)
• Air Quality- monitored for dust and exhaust emissions
• Water Quality- turbidity monitored- no issues

 

5. EMR report - Michael Woolley, URS Australia

Michael Woolley reported that he has reviewed the CEMP, and also undertaken a site inspection- no issues reported.  He will be visiting the site every 2 weeks.

 

6. Complaints procedure

A toll free number has been established by the LIA for issues and complaints- 1800-467 377.

 

A procedure outlining the protocols for response and follow-up has been established by the LIA (copy attached),

 

Response is to be provided within 24 hrs during office day time and 2 hrs after hours.

There was a suggestion to add the address of the complainant to the spreadsheet.

 

7. Two-way information flow

There was satisfaction expressed with both the information available on the website, as well as the information provided by Garry Clarke following the meeting. It was requested that this continue, and also that group members receive media releases as they are issued.

 

Shirley Massey provided an example of how she was passing the information on to her constituents (Commercial Fishermen) via their newsletter (copy attached).  Shirley Massey was congratulated on her initiative.

 

Little feedback had been received so far from others via the group members. Each member will provide feedback as they receive it.

 

8. Media protocols

The group indicated that the LIA should act as spokesperson for the group around media queries. The LIA is responsible for the group. It was understood that each member has the obvious right to comment on their own and their group’s views and perspectives, but that it made sense that there was one voice from the CLG.

 

9. Site visits

The group discussed the value of periodic site visits to view progress. It was agreed to schedule bi monthly site visits at 4pm prior to the scheduled CLG meeting, starting with the July meeting. If significant progress has not been made, the site segment may be postponed, and will be advised via the agenda papers.

 

Meeting closed 6.05 pm

 

 

Next meeting: 4 pm, Thursday 27 July 2006, site visit (meet at Windang Surf Club car park), followed by 5 pm meeting at Windang Senior Citizens Hall.