Groups set to go to court if Kariong rezoning approved

Local environment group Coast Environmental Alliance (CEA) has announced it is prepared to take legal action in the NSW Land and Environment Court if a controversial rezoning of ecologically and culturally sensitive land at 300 Woy Woy Rd, Kariong is approved.

The private developer, Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC), has faced strong opposition from community members, environmental groups and Traditional Custodians from the Guringai and Darkinoong people.

The site, part of the Kariong Sacred Lands, is currently zoned Conservation (C2) but is under consideration for rezoning to Residential (R2) to pave the way for a housing development only a short distance from a registered Aboriginal place of significance.

CEA founder Jake Cassar confirmed the group is already in talks with a legal team to prepare the case.

“If this rezoning gets approved, we need to be prepared to act immediately,” Cassar said.

“We’ve been to the Land and Environment Court twice before – including on the adjacent Bambara Rd site, also part of the Kariong Sacred Lands – and we were successful both times.

“We also joined forces to protect the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary at Calga from sand mine expansion.

“This fight is no different.”

Kariong Progress Association President Lisa Bellamy said the development raised serious concerns for local traffic and safety.

“The Kariong site is at the crest of a heavily vegetated hill in one of the state’s highest-risk bushfire zones, directly opposite the Rural Fire Service’s Gosford District Emergency Operations Centre,” Bellamy said.

“Anyone who lives in or drives through Kariong knows how quickly the roads gridlock when there’s an accident on the M1, Central Coast Hwy, or Woy Woy Rd.

“Adding hundreds of extra vehicles a day without proper infrastructure upgrades would put lives at risk — especially in the event of a bushfire evacuation.

“But even in day-to-day traffic the extra load will be a major problem.”

CEA and local community groups say the case has ramifications far beyond Kariong, warning that if approved, the rezoning would set a dangerous precedent across NSW.

“If this goes through, no Crown land or conservation-zoned land will be safe,” Bellamy said.

“In simple terms, you are not allowed to develop on C2 land.

“We just want the State Government to stop changing the goal posts and stick to their own rules for conservation – and stop the cosy arrangements between government and private developers.

“From what we’ve experienced over the past five years, there seems to be a strong push from government agencies to approve this and open up other highly sensitive areas to development.”

Bellamy said the proposal would not solve the housing crisis.

“We support the need for more housing – but not at the cost of our natural environment, endangered ecosystems, or community safety,” she said.

“And let’s be clear: this will not deliver affordable housing.”

Cassar said there had been a failed public exhibition process, with community submissions going missing and misinformation on taxpayer-funded government websites downplaying impacts.

“To call this ‘questionable’ would be an understatement,” Cassar said.

“We’ve been to ICAC, to the State and Crown Ombudsman — but this proposal keeps getting the green light.”

CEA and the Kariong Progress Association are urging the community to stay engaged and prepared.

“We’ve given this everything we have, because what’s at stake is much bigger than Kariong,” Bellamy said.

“The people of the Central Coast – and NSW more broadly – deserve honesty, accountability, and transparency in planning.

“If we need to take this to court, we will.

“And we know we have the community behind us.”

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