Trafalgar Avenue Park to be Renovated

Umina Community Group is pleased to announce the renovation of the park in Trafalgar Avenue,  in conjunction with Gosford City Council, the local community and local businesses, in May 2016.

Trafalgar Avenue Park 2015

Trafalgar Avenue Park 2015

As part of this announcement, Umina Community Group will be holding an Information Night on November 26th at 7pm at The Umina Surf Life Saving Club. If you would like to know more about the plans for the park or would like to become involved as a local business or community member please come along.

National Tree Day in Umina Beach

Umina Community Group Street Planting initiative

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

Grevillea Banksii or Red Silky Oak

Melaleuca Armillaris or Bracelet Honey Myrtle

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

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

South Street neighbour Garry is happy with his Melaleuca


Deb and Gary (South Street Bushcare) had fun on the day planting.

Planting in South 2
Planting in South 1


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!

 

 

Dune Revegetation Grant

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.

Grant Announcement

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,

Storm Damage impacts The Esplanade

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.

Dunes key to protection

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 Beach Street Trees

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.

Coastal Zone Study Submission

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.

  •   The immediate area adjacent to Ettalong Creek, which is High Risk
  •   East of Ettalong Creek to Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which is Low Risk
  •   East from Umina Beach SLSC to Ocean Beach SLSC, which is Medium Risk
  •   East from Ocean Beach SLSC to Ettalong Point, which is High Risk

Embodied within the report are our key recommendations which are as follows:

  •   That the existing dune structure which protects the beach and the assets beyond the beach be maintained
  •   That development on the dune protecting the beach be restricted by development controls
  •   That a Dune Management Plan be implemented to sustain and enhance the current dune structure and ecosystems

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.

Coastal Planning Representation

Umina Beach and Ocean Beach includes a set of ecologically sensitive sand dunes which protect the caravan park, our roads and houses from the ravages of the sea. These dunes give us a superb natural looking beach line which we all enjoy and attracts many visitors to our suburb (providing jobs in the local community). We all have a role to play in protecting these dunes and their ecosystems for our community and the generations ahead.

Gosford City Council is currently conducting a Coastal Zone Management Study which includes, amongst other items, new management strategies for Dune Management at Umina (to maintain the integrity of the dune system as nature’s last line of defence against wind and wave attack).  Based on this study process, the existing Management Plan will be replaced with a new one.

Umina Community Group is pleased to announce that the Umina Community will be represented on the coastal planning sub-committee looking at the these plans. In October 2014 Gosford City Council has welcomed representatives from the Umina Community Group onto the sub-committee.