WAVERTON PRECINCT COMMITTEE
1 Ross Street
Waverton NSW 2060
6th March 2015
The Honourable Mr Duncan Gay
Minister for Ports and Freight
Dear Mr Gay,
Berrys Bay Waverton Peninsula
Waverton Precinct has been advised that it was RMS which has recently carried out the safety work
to the two deteriorating wharves at Berrys Bay to minimise the risk of fallen timbers floating into the
Harbour.
Precinct recognised the need for safety work to address the dangerous state of the wharf. Indeed at
our 3 February meeting Precinct resolved to seek, through North Sydney Council, expedited
demolition because of the dangers posed by the ongoing loss of timbers from the collapsing wharf,
both to navigation and users of the Berrys Bay waterfront.
Precinct, through our presence on the Waverton Peninsula Working Group, has access to the lengthy
REF, commissioned by RMS and determined on 31 January 2013, which set down conditions to be
followed to mitigate the environmental impacts of any demolition of the western wharf and the
eastern T wharf.
Our observations in regard to the demolition work carried out are:
1. Both the western wharf and the end of the T wharf were demolished without due regard for
environmental safeguards laid down in the REF. For example:
a) No silt curtains were used.
b) The only floating spill boom was that which has been in place around the western wharf
for more than a year, and it was not fully effective even in relation to floating debris.
c) The seabed would have been disturbed by the removal of some intact piles with the
release of toxic metal pollution.
d) It seemed that no effort was made to relocate the seahorses from the area.
e) At one stage the barge used was moored against the historic seawall and may have
caused damage.
Minor cleaning up work has been carried out, but only after the flotsam had been left
unattended for more than a week, resulting in much of it sinking or escaping from the
floating curtain. Minor floating debris remains within the boom. Quoting one resident “On
Saturday morning there was a wharf plank, approx 1.4 metres long with one spike protruding
washed up on the beach at Waverton Oval about 50 metres from the access steps and
another shorter piece nearby.”
2. Depending on wind direction, the boom does not completely surround the remaining piles
so there is now a maritime navigation hazard, particularly when the piles are submerged by
high tide.
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3. There are four partial piles at the end of the T wharf that are submerged at high tide and as
such also constitute a maritime hazard. (A vessel operated by a mooring contractor was seen
crossing these piles at high tide, apparently oblivious of the presence of this hazard.)
4. A large amount of water logged, submerged wooden debris remains on the seabed.
5. The T-wharf is not structurally stable, with at least one half pile hanging by a single bolt.
Again to quote a resident “Two men were observed fishing on the T wharf this morning.
While RMS has fenced off this area extremely hazardous access is still possible over an open
beam section about 1.5 metres long. In the interests of public safety RMS should take steps
to prevent access from the shore by removing this link. “
Photographic evidence of some of the above is attached.
Because the Berrys Bay site is on a heavily used regular daily walking route, this was a very public
demolition, closely monitored by many interested members of the local community. Regrettably it
would appear that RMS have failed to ensure that the REF conditions have been properly observed.
That is, RMS appears to have failed in its fundamental duty to protect the marine environment of
this highly sensitive site. One concerned observer said the removal of the wharf was the
environmental equivalent of bulldozing a fibro building, leaving half on site to blow away and
loading the remainder onto a truck and driving it through the streets.
There is still much demolition and removal of on-water structures yet to be performed if the Berrys
Bay marina proposal proceeds: remaining sections of T wharf, long jetty, stub wharf, short jetty and
mooring dolphins. We request that RMS guarantee to the local community that it will ensure that
the REF conditions are properly observed, and this highly sensitive maritime site is properly
protected. We await your response.
Yours sincerely
Iain Bartholomew
Chair
Waverton Precinct Committee
Phone: 9959 5163
Email: iaincathie@bigpond.com
Cc:
The Honourable Mr. Rob Stokes, Minister for the Environment
Mr. Warwick Winn, General Manager, North Sydney Council
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T-wharf demolition with no boom in place.
Note floating debris
T-wharf with half pile hanging and three pile
stumps visible at low tide
Western wharf demolition in progress with
some material sinking and other material
floating
Spill boom showing large volume of floating
debris. Note material outside boom
Plank being lost by the floating boom
Current condition with stub piles both inside
and outside the boom
Fishermen on T-wharf
Plank with spike below Waverton Oval
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