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Council is seeking community input on a proposed governance model for the Anchorage Island Harbour in Tweed Heads, including a Draft Anchorage Island Harbour Management Plan and new Proposed Fees for Vessel Berths within the harbour.
The proposed management plan and fees aim to ensure the responsible use, maintenance and licensing of the Anchorage Island Harbour, located within the Anchorage Island development, bounded by Keith Compton and Island Drive in Tweed Heads.
Council’s Team Leader Coast and Waterways Tom Alletson said the Draft Anchorage Island Harbour Management Plan aimed to balance the needs of private and public facilities in the harbour, while protecting and conserving the environment and managing risk in the area.
“The draft plan provides clarity for residents, members of the public, vessel owners and Council regarding responsibility for issues within the harbour and how they will be managed,” Mr Alletson said.
“This includes issues including navigation, infrastructure maintenance, safety, environmental protection and administration of vessel berths.
“We want the local community to read the Draft Harbour Management Plan and share any comments they may have with us. Feedback will be reviewed and inform a Final Harbour Management Plan.”
The key objectives of the draft plan are to:
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Maintain the existing public facilities that allow safe use and enjoyment of the harbour area.
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Implement a vessel berth fee collection system that sets a price for use and creates a revenue stream for maintenance and renewal of harbour facilities.
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Implement a system of vessel berth licensing that provides security of tenure for berth licensees and clear conditions of use of public and private facilities
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Manage risk and support emergency response
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Protect harbour amenity and environmental values.
Proposed Fees for Vessel Berths
To accompany the draft management plan, Council is inviting the Tweed community to provide feedback on its new Proposed Fees for Vessel Berths within Anchorage Island Harbour.
As outlined in the proposed fees document, Council will licence and charge fees for private facilities within the harbour – such as pontoons - and private use of public facilities – such as swing moorings and jetty berths.
Mr Alletson said the income from proposed fees would help offset the costs of maintaining and, over the longer term, replacing the facilities in the area.
“Since management of the Anchorage Islands Harbour was transferred to Council in 2019, there have been no charges for vessel berths in the area,” he said.
“However, in this time, Council has spent approximately $1,600,000 in repairing and maintaining assets in the area, including rock retaining walls and timber boardwalks. An additional $500,000 is also planned to use on repairs to the Rotunda boardwalk.
“Introducing fees for vessel berths will help in recovering Council’s costs to maintain and renew assets in the area. The income from these fees will be reserved solely for use in the harbour."
Mr Alletson said the community is invited to have their say on the proposed fees.
“In September this year, Council held early community consultation on the proposed fees with direct stakeholders. We would like to thank those community members who participated and provided feedback," he said.
“We are now giving the wider community an opportunity to review and comment on these proposed fees. All comments will be reviewed and a report prepared for Council to consider in early 2024.”
A detailed summary of the proposed fees and how they have been calculated is available on Council’s Your Say website.
The community is invited to review and make comment on the draft Anchorage Island Harbour plan and fees before 5 pm Monday 15 January 2024.
To view both the Draft Anchorage Harbour Management Plan and the new Proposed Fees for Vessel Berths, visit yoursaytweed.com.au/anchorageisland.
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