LOCALS FEAR RIVER BLOCKAGE

MINNAMURRA residents have expressed their concern at the state of the Minnamurra River, saying unless Kiama Council begins to take notice the river will be facing the same dire problems as Lake Illawarra.

While conceding there is a problem, Councils Director of Engineering and Works says the matter will be rectified by nature.

?We have conducted quite a number of studies on the Minnamurra River and there is no doubt that more sand has been pushed across, said Mr Whittaker.

The big seas were a factor but it happened right through summer leaving the entrance quite shallow.

I imagine it would be quite hard getting a boat through there at low tide sometimes, he said.

The last study illustrates that this is a natural process. The mouth has not closed as of yet and all we need is a large flood to open it right up again.

Our management plan does not include dredging or anything like this. We will be allowing the natural processes to kick in.

Dismissing councils view are Minnamurra residents of over 75 years, Evan and Daphne Evans.

The council is spending thousands tidying up Manning Street when they could be doing something about the environment, said Mr Evans.

Sand is constantly being pushed from the beach in to the mouth making sure we are not getting a proper flushing, the wash is not getting down the river, Mrs Evans said.

It all started when they built Jerrara Dam, that stopped a lot of the flow. We havent had a flood since the 1960s and that isnt healthy, we need a good wash.

We have watched it gradually become full of silt ever since the floods stopped. We used to grow pumpkins in the river but you wouldnt do that now.

Odour was another concern of the couple.

There is no smell at the moment but if it keeps going like this it will come, he said.

We have to make sure the river remains tidal and continues to be flushed.

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