Peninsula in crisis over lack of trees

The Woy Woy Peninsula is in crisis due to over-development and lack of tree canopy, according to the Peninsula Residents Association (PRA).

In a response to a NSW Parliamentary Committee into the planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities, the group says the Peninsula will rapidly become unsurvivable unless the State Government and Central Coast Council immediately implement strict planning strategies.

The group says local planning policies for the past 18 years have focused on development without regard to the environment and the effects on the community.

It says the net effect of non-compliant developments, with little regard for the environment, have left residents with a Peninsula dominated by concrete and bitumen – and rapidly becoming unliveable.

The Peninsula is an urban area with the lowest green density in the state at less than 10 per cent.

The state target for urban areas in Greater Sydney is 40 per cent trees by 2036.

PRA says Central Coast Council has: failed to enforce planning provisions which supported plantings; routinely allowed the removal of trees on developed properties and street verges, not insisted on replacements, and has not followed up on vegetation requirements for development applications; and given no clear direction and expectations for the development of the Peninsula in local planning documents.

PRA says over-development of sites, arising from compromising planning standards, is now normal practice and has led to an absence of green space.

It criticised the Council’s recent consolidated Local Environment Plan/Development Control Plan which substantially departs from the greening provisions of the previous DCP.

It includes smaller setbacks that give less space for trees.

PRA says Council strategies such as Climate Change, Greener Places Strategy, Woy Woy Floodplain Study and Management Plan, are slow to be budgeted for, or implemented.

Council has a budget of only $40,000 per annum for trees for the entire Central Coast.

Another submission, from the Peninsula’s Grow Urban Shade Trees group (GUST) quoted from Council’s own Greener Spaces Strategy: “Between 2005 and 2014, canopy cover in Woy Woy decreased by 173ha, impervious surfaces increased by 84ha and unplantable space increased by 113ha”.

“In (Council’s) Tree Management team we only see action on tree removal approvals with no process for planting replacement trees and no street tree planting program,” GUST told the Inquiry.

“Hence, this tree loss is having a devastating impact on the loss of tree canopy.

“Without a budget for tree planting, we are well behind other proactive councils in restoring canopy.”

A third submission, from resident Mark Snell, outlined a list of immediate actions needed: an increase in tree canopy; an increase in open space; an integrated Peninsula-wide drainage program; an increase in overland drainage opportunities; implementation of an integrated creek maintenance program; and community-driven emergency planning, including attention to access and local facilities.

Snell also called for a comprehensive Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland endangered ecological community program to be implemented.

He said the rare and endangered Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland was being incrementally diminished, due to the lack of a concerted integrated management plan with measurable objectives and involving the community and other stakeholders.

“Central Coast Council’s management of this woodland in its ownership is not transparent, nor is it in co-operation with the other landholders, or community members supporting its protection,” he said.

“Its priorities do not correspond with the Save Our Species priorities of the Department of Planning and Environment.

“And as proponent of a recent planning proposal, it agreed to destruction of a significant private holding of this woodland, against the Department’s advice.

“Council’s attitude to the natural environment including this rare bushland seems to be that it is considered a threat to infrastructure, rather than valuable infrastructure in its own right which contributes to the community’s natural resilience to climate change.”

A spokesperson said Council did not have a comment at this time.

“Council respects the Parliamentary Committee process which seeks to garner a range of community/organisational views for their consideration,” the spokesperson said.

Merilyn Vale