Camel Plan Gives Residents The Hump

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday August 15, 2001

By DAVID ILIFFE

A group of Gerringong residents have voiced their concerns over a proposal to operate camel safaris on Werri Beach, near Gerringong.

Residents attended Kiama Municipal Council's southern precinct committee meeting on Monday night to oppose the Kiama Camel Company's plans, fearing the animals would cause environmental damage and spoil the area's amenity.

The company proposes to offer camel rides six days a week, using a 300m stretch of sand at the northern end of Werri Beach.

Gerringong resident Russ Lander said the proposal was wrong for an area already prone to severe erosion. ``I'm against it environmentally," he said.

``It's not the right place to have this. Suggestions have been made to take it down to Berry Beach (a section of Seven Mile Beach) where it's much wider. There's also a larger parking area and there's not a lot of bathers."

In its application, the Kiama Camel Company states the proposal would have a positive effect on the community's social development by providing another recreational sporting facility.

``Our business will attract more tourist dollars into the township," the application stated.

```We would leave nothing but footprints in the sand," it said.

The public exhibition period for the development application closed yesterday. The matter is expected to go before the September meeting of Kiama Municipal Council.

© 2001 Illawarra Mercury

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