Come and explore the rock pools with OCCI’s expert guides and learn about fascinating creatures that live there.
25 participants maximum on each walk, which are most suited to ages 5 years to adult. Walks last between 1 and 2 hours. Covered footwear is essential.
2017 Dates
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: To book, phone OCCI on 0404 450 429
‘Proudly supported by the Central Coast Council‘
Everyone who has a smart phone can download the two free apps which allow you to report a dumped shopping trolley. These are Trolley Tracker and “Trolley Collect”. These are easy to use apps that use your current GPS location to send the address of the trolley to the collection service. We are especially encouraging local Apprentices and University Students as Trolley Tracker has a monthly draw with a winning amount of $1,000.
As the Central Coast continues to grow with more and more people choosing to live in this iconic coastal area, the ever present problem of shopping trolleys in our streets grows. It would seem this problem is here to stay with only limited progress on stemming its impact in recent years. The longer the trolleys remain on the street the more they are used by others and end up in the way of walkers and cars, and in many cases in the creeks and on the beach.
Across the state there have been a number of trials of methods to reduce the number of trolleys leaving shopping centres, like the grates at Deep Water Plaza and there has also been changes to the local government act to allow Council Rangers to fine people for leaving a trolley on public land.
For those without a smart phone, most trolleys have a phone number on the handle which you can call and give the address. This service will also notify the collection services. We performed a quick survey and found in Umina Beach that all stores except Woolworths have a phone number on the trolley handle.
The Australian Retailers Association of NSW and Local Government Association of NSW have also developed a code of practice to guide retailers and Council to work together to try reduce the rate at which trolleys are dumped. Umina Community Group would prefer to see a more definitive policy by Central Coast Council along the lines of that implemented in Waverly Council. The Waverly Council example has important measures that would see all future Development Applications to include specific considerations on Trolley Management Programmes which the Council could then monitor. If fact, we are encouraging our residents to hold this question over to the upcoming council elections and then have residents request candidates to support the implementing of an approach similar to that of Waverly Council like approach.
Umina Community Group spent July 31 planting street trees as part of National Tree Day at Umina Beach. This event was strongly supported by Umina Community Group and Central Coast Council nursery. A lot of good for the local community was achieved and lots of fun was was had planting new trees on our streets.
The community see trees fast disappearing from our local landscape as multiple developments occur where there were once single houses and established gardens. As trees disappear, birds are losing their habitat and food source. Along with high density living comes a predominance of hard surfaces (concrete, brick and asphalt) increasing temperatures. There has never been a greater need for trees that provide relief from high temperatures, offer shade and the enjoyment of daily contact with nature.
Street trees are available free of charge from Central Coast Council for all local residents.
Gosford City Council has been successful is securing two teams for Umina Beach under the Federal Government Green Army initiative. The teams will work in partnership with Landcare/Bushcare groups to ensure that the coastal dunes recover from the storm damage, and are not overtaken by weed species. These teams will help build the resilience of the dunes to future storm events by removing debris and litter and improving dune habitat, rebuilding and repairing fencing to better manage public access, invasive weed removal, dune system re-vegetation, and providing erosion control measures.
If you would like to know more about the program then come along to the Umina Community Group Information Night – November 26th at 7pm at Umina Surf Life Saving Club.
Sunday 26th July was National Tree Day…an initiative of Planet Ark.
To support this initiative, members of the Umina Community Group saw this as an opportunity to do something positive for our local environment and to reconnect with nature.
‘Research shows that time in nature helps us thrive as individuals – physically, intellectually, emotionally, mentally, and ethically.’
Gosford City Council Protection of the Environment Trust Project via Gosford City Council Nursery donated a dozen trees for planting in local streets of Umina Beach. A small number of families were happy to participate in the planting of their chosen trees and to continue to care for these until they are well-established. The trees chosen for this event were Grevillea Banksii ( Red Silky Oak), Melaleuca Armillaris (Bracelet Honey Myrtle) and Tuckeroo.
The trees chosen for this event are shown here…
Grevillea Banksii or Red Silky Oak
Melaleuca Armillaris or Bracelet Honey Myrtle
Everyone became involved on the day..
We’d like to thank Kerri, Craig and Beau (from Artform Kitchens) for ‘adopting’ two Grevilleas in Trafalgar Street
South Street neighbour Garry is happy with his Melaleuca
Deb and Gary (South Street Bushcare) had fun on the day planting.
It is hoped that these trees will be cared for by nature-loving neighbours. If you see these trees in your street, please give them some water as they settle in to their new environment.
Trafalgar Street now has seven new trees. South Street has two new trees. Small numbers but let’s hope the idea catches on!
Today Umina Community Group announces that it has received a grant of $55,000 from Greater Sydney Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme to stabilise and repair the incipient dunes and the foredunes between Ettalong Point and the Umina Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
Lucy Wicks MP, Landcare, South Street Bushcare, Gosford City Council and UCG representatives inspect the Umina Dunes as part of the Grant announcement.
Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said it was great to see funding being delivered for this important project on the Peninsula.
“The Australian Government is investing $2 billion over four years in managing natural resources, enabling communities to take practical action. This includes $55,000 for this project here on the Central Coast,” Mrs Wicks said.
“The Landcare Programme is designed to be simple, local, long term and targeting on-ground works. It’s about putting community groups back at the centre of regional land management, to develop the most effective ways to manage and protect our precious natural assets.”
“Much of the coast took a battering in the recent storms, making this sand dune restoration project even more vital. It’s great to see that through the Umina Community Group, and engagement with the schools and the Surf Clubs the local community is coming on board and working hard on this restoration.”
Funding will be used to employ approved local contractors to remove weed infestation and dumped rubbish from the dunes. Three local volunteer groups will work with the contractors and follow up with revegetation by planting local native species including Spinifex grass, Pigface, and Coastal Wattles.
Umina Community Group spokesman, Tony Winch said “ This is exciting news for Umina Beach and for the environment. The dunes are in a very poor state and the ecosystem has been severely damaged by the infestation of noxious weeds including Bitou Bush, Lantana, Turkey Rhubarb, and Asparagus Fern, and they are littered with rubbish. We aim to clean up the dunes over the next 24 months under the supervision and leadership of the Gosford City Council’s Bushcare program. Three local volunteer groups will be involved, the South Street Bushcare group, the Peninsula Dunecare group, and the newly established Umina Community Dunecare Group “
“Gosford City Council congratulates the Umina Community Group on receiving this grant from Local Land Services to work with the local community to improve the condition of dune vegetation at Umina Beach,” Council’s Manager of Culture Phil Cantillon said.
“The storm in April and subsequent beach erosion has been a reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy dune vegetation. The work of the Umina Community Group and the Bushcare groups at Umina is an excellent example of the community and Council working together to improve the local environment.”
Local residents are invited to a public information evening to be held at 7 PM on the 23rd of July at the Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Following this initial open night there will be engagement with Schools, clubs, and community organizations.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer would be welcome and should contact Umina Community Group,
The continuous battering of the coast line has taken its toll on the The Esplanade, with erosion within meters of the pathway. Many older residents will be aware similar events happened in 1974 and back in 1952. These cycles are a reminder how sensitive and fragile the ecosystems that surrounds us are.
Collapse at Esplanade
Errol Smith
Central Coast Express Advocate Gosford
10 Jul 2015
GOSFORD Council has closed a section of The Esplanade at Ettalong Beach for urgent works to stabilise a nearby sand dune that collapsed and threatened to undermine the footpath and roadway. The council has confirmed that the erosion, near the…read more…
For those looking for more information on the history of this area and the 1974 storms you can read this earlier report – ETTALONG BEACH EROSION STUDY AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME.
Umina Community Group continues to work closely with Gosford City Council to increase the support for our dunes to provide protection for our community today and in the future. The dunes also provide a fantastic look to the beach giving it the natural informal look we all enjoy so much.
Dunes seen as key to protection from erosion
Central Coast Express Advocate Gosford
6 Feb 2015
THE newly-formed Umina Community Group applauded the efforts of Gosford Council at Tuesday night’s meeting. Director Tony Winch said the group had a number of priorities, including protecting the environment and coastal dune network through active…read more…
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Ire rises over sea level policy
Terry Collins Pat Aiken, at Davistown, is concerned about Gosford Council’s Sea Level Rise Policy.
Central Coast Express Advocate Gosford
13 Feb 2015
WITH only two days left for residents to have their say on coastal management in the Gosford LGA, not all residents are happy with the options proposed. Submissions on Gosford Council’s Draft Open Coast and Broken Bay Beaches Coastal Zone Management…read more…
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Umina Community Group and South Street Umina Bushcare Group is extremely pleased to receive support from the Gosford City Council Protection of the Environment Trust Project.
Phil Cantillon, Manager Culture stated “Your application has been considered and I am pleased to inform you that Council would like to support this project by donating trees of local provenance and native trees from Councils nursery.”
We are now looking for community households to adopt a tree to bring about an improvement local environment.
The intent of this project is to enhance the streetscape by planting street trees along roads to build an enhanced corridor for animals and birds to move from the dunes, which run along the beach, into the suburb of Umina. The project also has many other benefits for the people, flora and fauna of Umina.
It is envisaged that a handful of streets can be improved from being bare harsh environments to appealing green, tree-lined areas offering shade along with the sounds of wildlife. The plan is to use a mix of native trees to allow the suburb to continue to have an informal look and support different needs.
Submission to Gosford City Council for the Coastal Zone Management Plan Ocean/Umina Beach
Umina Community Group’s submission covers the coastal area from Ettalong Creek (Berrima Street) at the Western extremity to Ettalong Point (Barrenjoey Road) in the East. We note that there are four distinct areas within this beautiful coast which has a heritage of providing enjoyment to beachgoers for over 100 years.
Embodied within the report are our key recommendations which are as follows:
The submission is the work of a dedicated group of volunteers who have a close relationship with our coast, its history, and who all have a passionate desire to hand on to future generations a beach area which can contribute to the enjoyment of residents and visitors to Ocean/Umina Beach.
We commend this submission to the Council and to other interested parties, and hope that it provides valuable insights into the wider community’s opinions and the past, present, and future of Umina Beach. Protecting the coast and the assets in the immediate region comes down to ensuring that the existing dune structure is maintained, protected, and nurtured. This is critical to the future of our community. We want to pass on to future generations the unspoiled beauty and natural ambience of Umina Beach currently enjoyed by our community and visitors to our wonderful beaches.
We thank the Gosford City Council for facilitating the process of public engagement and comment during the preparation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan and look forward to ongoing involvement in creating a better future for the 16,000 people who live in Umina Beach.
Umina Community Group (inc) 10th February 2015
You can read the submission here UCG CZMP Submission Final.
