Beach funding delay vital

A DELAY more than two weeks in applying for urgent funding to halt erosion at Kingscliff Beach has been explained by Tweed Shire Council general manager Mike Rayner as necessary to ensure the application's success.

Earlier this week Mayor Warren Polglase confirmed the application for natural disaster funding of up to $10 million was still being prepared despite calls by councillors at their August meeting for urgent action.

Mr Rayner said yesterday he hoped the application would be lodged by today following two weeks of work including discussions with the NSW Department of Lands and approval from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.

“History has shown us that applications will be processed more quickly and have more chance of success if they are comprehensive and accurate,” Mr Rayner said.

“They need to withstand Treasury scrutiny.

“The lodging of the paperwork is the end of the process, not the start.”

Mr Rayner said staff had spent the past two weeks getting data from various agencies to back up the council's argument that the erosion was a result of a natural disaster.

“We have taken the couple of weeks needed to give us the best chance to ensure the application is successful. It needs to be done that way.”