The Community Environment Network (CEN) has called on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to explain how it will protect environmentally sensitive land at Doyalson which is currently the subject of a 40-day stop work order following alleged clearing of native vegetation.
The Department issued the Stop Work Order in September following reports of unauthorised clearing in a conservation zone under the Biodiversity Conservation Act, after the matter was referred to it by Central Coast Council.
An investigation is currently underway.
“CEN called for the withdrawal from sale of this land when it was included in Tranche 1 of Central Coast Council’s asset selloff program,” CEN Chair, Gary Chestnut, said.
“We have been aware of its environmental importance for many years but there was no public consultation for Tranche 1 and when we alerted former Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, to its environmental value, he refused to withdraw it from sale.
“We have corresponded with Administrator Rik Hart about the environmental importance of this land which contains Endangered Ecological Communities and a wetland that is of substantial importance to the health of Tuggerah Lakes.
“He did not listen and went ahead with its disposal as ‘surplus to needs’.
“We have asked Mr Hart, who was acting CEO of Council at the time the executive leadership team decided which land to sell off, if he was aware of its environmental value when that decision was made.
“We have asked why Council broke its promise not to sell any environmental land.”
cen chair, gary chestnut
“We await answers to those important questions.
“CEN then learned that Council had been investigating a Conservation Agreement with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust of NSW to protect the land (before it was put on the market).
“We know it has been subject to a biodiversity assessment, but Council has not released details of its conservation value, which we estimate could be as much as $20M.
“This tale of woe continued with the sale of the land for at least $1.5M less than it was purchased for by the former Wyong Council in 2014.
“Council also ignored the advice of its own valuer who recommended a conservation assessment to boost the sale price of the land.
“Now the Department of Planning and Environment has been forced to intervene when it was discovered that clearing of native vegetation was occurring on the site.
“We repeat, the land at 200-1550 Thompson Vale Rd, Doyalson, has significant environmental values and has been identified as a critical part of a wildlife corridor in the northern part of the Central Coast in both Central Coast Council’s Biodiversity Strategy (2020) and the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036.
“We have now asked the Department of Planning and Environment Hunter Central Coast to explain how it will investigate the clearing of native vegetation.
“We believe it is in the public interest for DPE to explain what further action it will take at the end of the current stop work order.
“Will the new owner be required to remediate the site and how can we be assured that native vegetation will be protected into the future?
“We believe the DPE should provide further information to provide some assurance that these matters will be fully investigated, and the environmental values of the site protected.”
A Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson confirmed a Stop Work Order was issued in September under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 halting any further clearing while an investigation is undertaken.
“As the investigation is ongoing, the Department cannot provide further comment,” the spokesperson said.
Source:
Media release, Nov 26
Community Environment Network
Media statement, Oct 26
Department of Planning and Environment