The Minister for Parks and Environment must intervene in an escalating situation at Lewisham Foreshore.
Lewisham Foreshore is important for its community and environmental values but has been facing big challenges with coastal erosion. In response to this issue, in December 2023 the Minister told local residents the Parks and Wildlife Service would undertake low impact works, natural regeneration, and mend three unsafe access points to the beach.
Despite these promises – and an acknowledgement that further works were likely to impact on ecological communities – in the past fortnight the Minister’s department has taken a completely different, destructive approach. Structures have been removed without any qualified assessment, and aggressive landscape works have commenced.
Residents are particularly concerned by excavators trampling over unstable sand dunes, and removed weeds being strewn over environmentally sensitive areas where recent weed removal works have taken place.
What is happening at Lewisham is completely the wrong approach to managing a serious and sensitive issue. It sets a terrible precedent for other communities and the management of public land.
It is increasingly apparent the Department’s intervention in this matter was not just ill-conceived, but detrimental to both the community and the environment. Minister Duigan needs to take back control and execute what he rightfully committed to in 2023.
