Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
CR12.138 CAMBRIDGE COASTCARE PROPOSAL - CITY BEACH BIOLINC PROJECT
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To consider a proposal submitted by Cambridge Coastcare for a BioLINC project
(Landscape Integration for Natural Connections) for City Beach based on funding provided
by the federal government's Biodiversity Fund and Lotterywest.
BACKGROUND:
Cambridge Coastcare is a community group established by Council in 1999 to assist in
managing, monitoring and protection of the environment and recreation values of the
coastline in the Town. Councillor Walker is the Town's current representative on the
Coastcare Committee.
Coastcare have submitted a proposal to reconnect the north and south coastal dunes at City
Beach to assist biodiversity links and develop more sustainable, community-friendly
landscapes. The proposal is based on the BioLINC project (Landscape Integration for
Natural Connections) "Connecting People with Nature". This project will seek funding from
the federal government and Lotterywest.
The BioLINC project proposes to link interpretive trails and restoration that includes building
new dunes, restoring native vegetation in degraded areas and providing a world-class coast
walking opportunity. Coastcare states that this will be one of the largest biodiversity
programmes undertaken in an Australian capital city coastal area and will be a showcase for
the community and visitors.
Coastcare representatives gave a presentation of the BioLINC project at the Community and
Resources Committee meeting held on 16 July 2012.
DETAILS:
A copy of the BioLINC project proposal submitted by Coastcare is attached.
The proposal has been updated since being presented to the July 2012 Community and
Resources Committee which proposed to "break" Challenger Parade from the southern City
Beach car park south to Boscombe Avenue to allow for a dunal vegetated connection. The
current proposal no longer shows a "break" in Challenger Parade but highlights the area as
well as a section of Oceanic Drive to develop a solution to improve the biodiversity crossing
of these roads.
Coastcare also propose that all funding would be sourced through sponsorship and grants
including approaches to Lotterywest and the federal government's Biodiversity Fund.
Coastcare state that the project will be no cost to the Town with savings in water and
maintenance costs.
The proposal indicates the development costs are estimated to be $1.5m to $2m to be
implemented over a three year period. However, Coastcare have advised that they propose
to apply for funding in the November/December 2012 round of the federal government's
H:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\AUGUST 2012\C CR.DOCX 201