At the beginning of this year, council applied to the Public Reserve Management Fund for $300,000 to assist in the development of the Urunga Tidal Pool.

However, last week, the NSW State Government’s Department of Primary Industries informed council their grant application was unsuccessful, meaning council will need to reapply for other external sources of funding to enable this long awaited project to move to the next phase.

“It is a big disappointment for council and particularly the staff who devoted much time and effort into preparing a very solid grant application” and “no doubt they’ll be disappointment felt in the community too,” mayor Mark Troy said.

The Urunga Tidal Swimming Facility Action Group (UTSFAG) told the Courier-Sun the rebuff came as a shock, and questions need to be asked.

“We felt that with the community consultation and unity of community support that this grant application was going to get us across the line,” UTSFAG spokesperson Vanessa Hogan said.

“It astounds us that substantial funding has been approved for our neighbouring councils – Coffs, Port Macquarie and Taree City Council areas … we’ve had a number of failed submissions and we’re still scratching our heads as to why our council keep failing. What are the obstacles?

“Hopefully feedback will be made available so we can reassess and refocus for the next round of funding. As a community, what more can we do to plead our case that we are concerned about the health of the Urunga Lagoon and if something is not done soon, will we be trying to raise funds to clean up a toxic situation?

“We are grateful for the efforts being made by staff at BSC but maybe it’s time we asked those neighbouring councils for some pointers on how to win?

“At the end of the day the community had hoped to be seeing progress removing the silt in the Lido this summer.”

The Urunga Mylestom Chamber of Commerce is also baffled by the funding snub.

“While announcements of support by council for some of the big issues for the seaboard such as a tidal pool at the old lido site are welcomed, it is action that community wants to see,” chamber president Steve Allan said.

“As we move through the last days of winter it seems that we are facing another summer holiday period ahead with no safe swimming area at Urunga. 

“The questions to ask about this project becoming a reality are by whom? And when? After years of debate, feasibility studies and planning, the people of the shire just want this project done.”

The new tidal pool development was to replace the old sea lido, which was demolished in 1999 after concrete cancer was detected. Since then, locals and tourists alike have been trying to re-establish a tidal swimming facility.

“The project, to relocate sand and silt from the centre of the lido area is essential to re-establish the natural flow of the Urunga Lagoon,” Ms Hogan said.

“Without removal of the silt, the health of the lagoon is at risk, and is therefore vital to ensure the safety of local fauna and flora … not to mention the many hundreds of locals and visitors who use the area for recreation.

“The success of the project also impacts the shire’s tourism, with great benefit to not only Urunga businesses but also those of other towns within the shire.”