Was the $5million promise for Surfside mitigation a political ploy of empty words?

Recent king tides have once again flared the ongoing concerns of Surfside residents who are witnessing, event by event, the rapid erosion of the Clyde River foreshore with the treat of tidal inundation a possibility with each and every event.

Photos: supplied In response to the latest impacts the Eurobodalla Coast Alliance have said:

“People may recall that an injunction was placed on the new Batemans Bay bridge by the Eurobodalla Coastal Alliance in order to stop construction to get a Review of Environmental Factors study completed. "This study was not done. A study of the effects of the pylons on the old bridge downstream, done by local engineer Viv Sethi, which was fully endorsed by renown coastal engineer Angus Jackson, proved that the old bridge, along with the extended rock wall on the southern shore was the cause of erosion in the past which took away a 42 block subdivision on Wharf Road. "In order to stop further erosion it was suggested that a rock wall should be built parallel to the one on the southern side which would prevent sand from the northern shoal being scoured and dumped at Corrigans Beach which has accreted by 300 metres in depth. "In a meeting with Andrew Constance and Gabriel Upton (then the Minister for Environment and Heritage), a sum of $5million was allocated towards mitigation and also $250,000 towards a study to determine exactly what mitigation would be best and this would be done before completion of the bridge. Believing this promise, the injunction was lifted and bridge work commenced. "Now 2 years on, nothing has been done and the huge swells last weekend have seen massive erosion and the sea encroaching into the backyards of properties in Surfside. Legislation prevents property owners from protecting their properties in any way as a massive fine of $500,000 could be imposed if they should try to do so. "In addition clauses are being put on development applications stating that no compensation will be paid if they should succumb to the sea or 4 inundation events in a 1 year period and that owners would also have to demolish their homes at their own expense and return the land to how it was originally."