As Central Coast Council’s efforts to buy back the Davistown Wetlands remain stalled, Davistown Progress Association (DPA) held a small candlelight vigil last week to mark World Wetlands Day.
“We held the vigil not only to commemorate World Wetlands Day but to remind people of the value of retaining and protecting local wetlands,” DPA President Jenny McCulla said.
“This is not only for the local ecological health of Davistown but for the health of Brisbane Water aquatic life in general.”
The DPA has been urging a buy-back of the wetlands for years but Council’s negotiations with the private landowners broke down completely last April.
Then Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said at the time that the land owners and Council were at an “impasse” regarding the valuation of the land.
“While the owners are keen to sell the land, the price they are proposing is well above the various market valuations which Council has received,” Persson said at the time.
“The difference of opinion regarding the land value is due to the severe environmental and flooding constraints affecting the site.
“While these have been discussed with the owners, they are of the opinion that these constraints should not impact the market valuation given historical approvals and developments of neighbouring sites in Davistown.
“Despite efforts to reach a solution, an agreement on price is unattainable and Council is bound by both its adopted Land Transaction Policy and appropriate governance, which prevent Council from purchasing land for more than its market valuation.”
Council discontinued negotiations with the owners of the land following a resolution that same month.
Persson said at the time that a voluntary planning agreement was possible.
This would mean land would be offered to Council while other land appropriate for development would be allowed to be developed.
But despite this announcement, the Council spokesperson said no further conversations have been held with the owners of the land.
The Davistown Wetlands includes the following lots: 11 Lilli Pilli St, 51 Pine Ave, 1 Cross Rd, 3 Cross Rd, 10-20 Kincumber Cres, 11-29 Kincumber Cres, 108A Malinya Rd and 83 Malinya Rd.
World Wetlands Day is now an official United Nations observance.
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 75/317 in August 2021, proclaiming February 2 as World Wetlands Day.
Celebrated since 1997, World Wetlands Day raises awareness about wetlands as critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, economies and more.
The day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971.
The theme for 2022 is Wetlands Action for People and Nature with a public campaign appealing for financial, human and political capital to be invested to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those that have been degraded.
Terry Collins
The Council should pursue the purchase of the Wetlands ……. There is a Davistown account that already has 1.4 million deposited …..
The owner has wanted to sell the land for a few years now and may accept a reasonable offer from Council.