The Say No to Glenning Valley Development Group has called on the newly-elected Central Coast Council to reject six current residential subdivision proposals in the area.
Say No spokesperson, Ms Kylie Boyle, said she had written to every new Councillor asking them to reject all proposed, current and future developments in the Glenning Valley area “to protect this ecologically sensitive environment”.
Currently, a proposal for a 223 lot subdivision (DA1438/2015) is pending a Land and Environment Court decision, and is the subject of a Controlled Action under the Federal Department of Environment and Energy.
Another three subdivisions, comprising 19 lots in total (DAs 1057/2017, 1058/2017 and 705/2017), are waiting for Council approval.
Another eight-lot subdivision (DA98/2016) was approved by Council in April with a deferred commencement.
A DA has not yet been lodged for a subdivision consisting of 79 lots in the area.
“I asked the Councillors to please explore all options to protect and preserve the habitat of the endangered Swift Parrot and other threatened and endangered species at Glenning Valley,” Ms Boyle said.
“As I understand it, this part of Glenning Valley well and truly fits the criteria for inclusion in our unique Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS),” she said, referring to a system used by the former Gosford Council to preserve ecologically sensitive land.
“This area consists of long-term conservation features and has high aesthetic and environmental values.
“It is also home to over 35 threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna and contains habitat for the critically-endangered Swift Parrot.
“Koalas have also been identified in this area.”
Ms Boyle said the Say No group wanted Central Coast Council to approach current landowners regarding purchasing sensitive land under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, for inclusion into the COSS.
“The community support for this cause can be evidenced by the community rallies we have held and the continued objections sent to council against the development of this area.
“This area was originally protected and zoned as 7(f) Environmental Protection, 7(g) Wetlands Management and 7(a) Conservation (Wyong Council 2013a), until the former Wyong Council members voted to rezone this land as R2 Low Density Residential.
“The rezoning has meant that this area is now open to devastation and destruction and the Central Coast is at risk of losing a substantial amount of bushland that will have significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna.
“If these developments go ahead, then council will be responsible for serious and irreversible damage to the environment,” she said.
The Say No to Glenning Valley Development Group is hopeful the new Central Coast Council will work to ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained and enhanced for the benefit of future generations, conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity.
“This should be a fundamental consideration in environmental planning and decision making process,” Ms Boyle said.
Ms Boyle said she believed the 223 lot subdivision that was currently the subject of Land and Environment Court action, was to be reduced to 127 lots, with a 250 metre buffer for the White-Bellied Sea Eagle.
“We believe the developer will put the changes forward at a section 34 conference that the parties are still trying to organise,” Ms Boyle said.
She said she supposed the Say No group should be content that the developer was willing to scale back their plans, but we are concerned about the 79 lot subdivision,” she said.
Ms Boyle said all current DAs were concentrated in the same area, which was known habitat for multiple species recognised by the NSW Government as endangered.
On October 23, Ms Boyle said she had been disappointed by the response from Councillors to her attempt to have them consider strategies for preserving the Glenning Valley Bush.
“The Mayor, Clr Jane Smith, sent me a basic response saying she was getting updates from staff.
“Clr Chris Holstein said he was looking into it and he must’ve asked staff because they’ve sent me an email basically saying those DAs with small numbers of submissions will be dealt with under delegation.
“Clr Louise Greenaway responded stating that the smaller DAs don’t have to come to Council.
“She said we needed to see if Council was prepared to negotiate, but I said I needed someone to take it to them and I haven’t heard back from her.
“Both Clr Smith and Clr Greenaway have been on board agreeing to fight with Say No to Glenning Valley Development and now they have gone quiet.
“I would expect the former CEO of CEN to be willing to do something about this, I would think that with the new Council, we would at least have a chance, so it is disappointing.
Source:
Email, Oct 11
Interview, Oct 23
Kylie Boyle, Say No to Glenning Valley Development
Jackie Pearson, journalist