Local residents and various organisations are being invited to join a Master Plan Project Team to scope and generate policy directions on the use of public areas around Freshwater Beach. When finalised, the Coastal Space Master Plan will be put to the newly elected Northern Beaches Council in September 2017 for approval.

The Plan will encompass improvements for Freshwater View Estate; Undercliffe Reserve; Freshwater Beach Reserve; and the McKillop Park coastal strip from Lumsdaine Drive, South Curl, to the northern end of Freshwater Beach at Ocean View Road. Much of these Reserves have long been in need of upgrading and improvements. Friends of Freshie has continually argued that the missing boardwalk link from South Curl Curl to Freshwater Pool and the beach needs to be finally constructed. As a prelude, Council and volunteers, including Bushlink disabled workers, have done excellent work in returning the McKillop Park coastal strip to its heathland natural state.

The two children’s’ playgrounds in the Beach Reserve need to be upgraded as they haven’t had maintenance upgrades for twenty years. Heritage-listed Freshwater View Reserve, the scene of 4 deaths at Secret Rock in the last five years, needs a plan of Management and nearby Undercliffe Reserve, also needs substantial bush care to bring it back to its natural state.

The Plan does not involve consideration of the dunes.

The Friends of Freshwater has been allocated two positions on this Project Team.

REAL PROGRESS ON WEED ERADICATION AT UNDERCLIFFE RESERVE

A volunteer group generated by Friends of Freshie and professionally supervised by Northern Beaches Council has been working for the last two years on removing weed infestation from Freshwater’s southern headland.

With 480 hours of volunteer work already provided by local residents, we are starting to make real progress and stabilising areas that were dominated by weeds. Where once spectacular views of the Beach were impeded by lantana and morning glory, now native plants are returning.

If anyone would like to join us in our project, you would be most welcome. We work on a fortnightly basis for 2 hours, every second Thursday, and our next session is on Thursday 16 March from 1pm.