A community meeting, including representatives from Crown Lands and Bega Valley Shire Council, discussed a way forward after the closure of the popular Long Swamp track. Photo: Marion Williams.
Reinstating pedestrian and cyclist access between Wallaga Lake and Bermagui will take time and money and there is no immediate or obvious source of funding.
That leaves Wallaga Lake Road as cyclists’ only access for most of the way. It has a speed limit of 80 km/h in parts, potholes and very rough edges even after recent work. It is widely agreed that it is unsafe for cyclists in its current form.
For years residents of Bermagui and its northern localities Fairhaven, Beauty Point and Wallaga Lake Heights have used the popular Long Swamp track to walk or cycle between town and the Wallaga Lake area. Extreme weather in early July destroyed part of the southern end of the track. The entire 1.2 km-long Swamp track is now closed to the public.
A meeting was held on 19 August (Tuesday) to find a way forward. Representatives from Crown Lands, Bermagui Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager (BFFRLM), Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC), Bermagui Community Forum, Bermagui Chamber of Commerce, and community members attended.
It was apparent early on that repairing the damaged section of Long Swamp track or building a boardwalk over the track was not feasible.
The Long Swamp track is on a flora and fauna reserve on Crown land. Its sole purpose is the preservation of flora and fauna. It is not a public recreational reserve. The area contains a listed state significant wetland and is protected by numerous environmental regulations.
It is an identified coastal erosion zone, which means no more infrastructure should be built there.
The top right shows how narrow the gap between Long Swamp and the beach is now. Photo: Supplied.
It is eroding far faster than predicted. Karen Joynes, a member of Bermagui Dune Care and former member of BFFRLM, said the erosion at Haywards Beach had happened 75 years earlier than predicted.
Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Blaan Davies could not attend the meeting, but sent the meeting convenors a statement reaffirming that its priority is environmental and cultural protection of the area. The area is subject to a native title claim.
The only alternative for walkers is to use the beach, although access to the beach is limited at the southern end due to erosion.
The most likely solution for cyclists is to make a new track along the road reserve of Wallaga Lake Road. This would be a longer term solution.
Bermagui Community Forum representative David Monro said action was needed urgently for an interim solution given safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists.
Long Swamp track is very popular with visitors, and important to residents’ social connection, and physical and mental wellbeing. Photo: Marion Williams.
“The response from BVSC to a request for work on Wallaga Lake Road’s edges was unsatisfactory. It is likely the community will need to take some more action to ensure safety is addressed before the holiday season,” he said.
The forum approached Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland who indicated the forum could request funding for the permanent solution.
Brian Cullis, a member of BFFRLM, proposed an alternative route for part of the shared path, namely through Bermagui State Forest. Mr Cullis said in the past two years Forestry upgraded parts of the road considerably on a very limited budget and was willing to do more work.
“To me that would be a sensible alternative for part of the route,” he said. “I suggest we get BVSC to discuss with Forestry. Forestry has been extremely supportive.”
In the meantime BVSC’s Roads Department is investigating what to do with the South Tilba Road cul-de-sac at the southern end of Long Swamp track where cars turn around or park. It is rutted, muddy and close to another area that is steadily being eroded.
BVSC will investigate moving the turning area further up the road towards Bermagui. BVSC staff indicated it was not a priority and there was no funding for the work unless the storm damage was declared a disaster. However, signs warning motorists of the conditions could be erected fairly quickly.
BVSC staff plan to restore access to Haywards Beach as part of work to repair damage across several beaches hit by recent storms. The work should be complete by summer. Its coastal management staff offered BFFRLM help with remediation work.
Councillor Helen O’Neil said it would be great if Crown Lands was actively involved in the way forward amid the competition for grant funding among flora and fauna reserves. “Funding these reserves should be looked at in the environment of climate change,” Cr O’Neil said.
