Council’s director of engineering services, Ron Hartley said council commissioned an independent safety check, shortly after an article in the Newcastle Herald November last year raised safety concerns about the deterioration of the pylons on the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest wharves.

While the newly erected barricades have appeared during peak season, Mr Hartley said the wharves were structurally sound.

“The barricades are just a safety precaution, they’re not about to fall apart,” he said.

“It’s still safe for the piers to take ferries.”

Owner and operator of Nelson Bay Ferries, Ray Horsfield said it was important for a waterfront town like Tea Gardens Hawks Nest to have the suitable infrastructure.

A member of the Myall Waterways Chamber of Commerce Rick Wraight said he had witnessed boats coming in and turning away after seeing the state of the wharves, adding to the effect of the sand-choked Myall River.

“The fact is people with boats spend money. Tourism is the lifeblood of our town,” he said.

Spokesperson for the Myall River Action Group Gordon Grainger said the state of the piers was indicative of council’s neglect to the area.

Mr Hartley said the temporary orange netting would remain in place indefinitely until final inspections of the piers were carried out.

“If work is needed then council will have to come up with the funds and we would look at applying for Maritime grants,” he said.

Failing this, Mr Hartley said money would have to be cut from somewhere else in the budget.

Since speaking to Mr Hartley, council confirmed an $80,000 grant to upgrade the wharf had been approved by Maritime NSW under the Better Boating Program.

The program aims to improve public recreational boating infrastructure across NSW.