Patricia Hellier - 13 May 2025
Patricia Hellier presented to Council at the Public Access Session on 13 May 2025.
Good Morning Mayor, Councillors, Acting GM and welcome to Eurobodalla, Staff, Gallery & those comfortable zooming from home my name is Patricia Hellier from Batemans Bay.
Councillors some might remember I spoke at Public Access 8th April 2025 I raised a number of points. I received a reply from Director Gary Bruce on the 24th April 2025.
Today, again I raise the $12,007,632 and I am sure some of you might think “what she banging on about ” - whilst the reply I received covered some points, however I have some further concerns.
Firstly in the reply I received , it states that $7,632.000 was associated to administration fee for the Federal Disaster Relief Grant, was this fee for the administration of funds just for the Eurobodalla ? or did this incorporate the costs of the fees for other areas outside the Eurobodalla that also received this grant funding? This fee seems extremely large for the administration just for our area.
Secondly I acknowledge that the figures of $2.4M for the protection of Wharf Road and the $1.5M for protection of Surfside from coastal inundation along Surfside West, these are the same figures that had previously been provided – I question the statement in the reply I received which is in brackets states (NSW Government grant) my understanding is that this monies came from the Federal Disaster Relief Funds!!!
Thirdly according to the reply I received there is a figure of $1.1M for protection of Bay Road, Long Beach from erosion. I question this figure as previously the figure of $2.6M has been quoted for this work. This is a difference of $1.5M. I also note in the reply I received which is in brackets states (NSW Government grant) as I stated previously my understanding is that this monies came from the Federal Disaster Relief Funds!!!
I note that extra large sand bags have been placed on the foreshore of Bay Road Long Beach, is the difference between $2.6M and $1.1M due to the costs for the extra large sand bag?
I have stated previously on the 27th February 2019 MP’s Gabrielle Upton and Andrew Constance announced funding of $250,000 for investigations works and $5M towards a revetment wall for the protection of Surfside. Is this the money that was allocated in 2019 that is being referred to in the reply I received from Council as the NSW Government Grant , if not, is that monies still available or has it been spent on other projects?
Fourthly, in the reply I received from my last presentation there is a Figure of $6M for Casey’s Beach and yet in previous correspondence I have received and it was noted at the time, on Page 87 of the Delivery Program there was an allocation of $3.5M quoted for a rock wall at Casey’s Beach. Is the figure of $6M correct? I note, that in the reply I received it does state that the $6M is from the Disaster Relief Fund.
I note the Mayoral Minute advocating to NSW Transport in relation to the sand dredging whilst this is a positive move my view is this is only a short term solution.
Thank you,
Patricia Hellier