The southern end of Palm Beach is earmarked for enhancements that will protect its natural landscape, improve infrastructure and highlight historic links to 1920’s surfing culture.
Northern Beaches Council Administrator Dick Persson said before the Council develops the draft Landscape Masterplan for the area, the community is invited to have a say on its future.
“People are welcome to attend drop-in sessions to learn more about this iconic stretch of beach and contribute their invaluable insights about what they think needs to be done,” Mr Persson said.
“Palm Beach will remain one of the world’s natural masterpieces - we’re about preserving the natural landscape and making warranted upgrades.
“The management of beaches is complex because there are no fix and forget solutions to many of the problems.
“We’re interested in any issues the community can let us know about. Once we’ve identified a definitive list of issues, we’ll engage a coastal engineer to provide technical advice on how to best manage the impacts of coastal processes over the long term,” he said.
“The protection of the environmental, heritage and social values, geology, topography, shape and form of the beach and dunes and the native vegetation are paramount.”
Mr Persson said there are a wide range of issues and improvements to be considered.
“We have an opportunity to investigate ways to ease traffic congestion, increase parking and pedestrian pathways as well as improve fencing, lighting and furnishings, where appropriate,” he said.
“Other things worth looking at are ways to highlight the cultural and heritage architecture of the location. There are heritage architectural elements at Palm Beach area that are similar to those found at Florida and Hawaii and the surfing culture of the 1920’s.”
Drop-in sessions are being held at the Pavilion, Ocean Road, Palm Beach:
- Saturday 12 November 1-4pm
- Wednesday 16 November 3.45 -6.15pm
Submissions for this stage close Monday 5 December 2016.
For those who would like to find out more about the history of Palm Beach, Council’s Heritage Librarian will be conducting a heritage walk to coincide with the week-day drop by session.
- Wednesday 16 November 2.30-3.30pm, starting from the ocean pool at the southern end of Ocean Road, Palm Beach.
Bookings are essential for the walk. Please phone 9970 1600 to reserve your place.