Concerns about Regional Developments
I am concerned about developments approved by the Department of Planning, Department of Lands, and Department of Environment, with two big developers intended for the inter-regional area between the Central Coast and the Hunter. There was no community involvement in the process signed off by Ministers Sartor, Kelly, and Debus allowing Rosegroup, and Coal & Allied, that is going to allow extensive development in these areas, in exchange for land to be dedicated as a conservation reserve or a national park.
This agreement was negotiated without any reference to community residents, or the appropriate local councils (Wyong Shire and Lake Macquarie). And, at the same time, amendments were made to the Lower Hunter Strategic Plan to allow for these proposed developments, again without any opportunity for community input; and this within a context of it having long been government policy to protect this zone.
The affected areas, Gwandalan, Nords Wharf, and Catherine Hill Bay, are not even mentioned by name in the Lower Hunter Strategic Plan, though are shown vaguely on an inset map, but this plan was used to justify the proposals. The Plan was finalised on 17 October 2006, and the Memoranda of Understanding were signed on the 16th and 17th October 2006. The residents feel that the intention of establishing new parks or a conservation reserve in the area is very laudable, but strongly believe that the entire area should be protected in that same way.
Documents are available that show that the land at Gwandalan was given to these developers at no cost, along with the right to mine it, and that the lands at Nords Wharf and Catherine Hill Bay were acquired in the same way. The residents point out that for the government to now give the developers $77 million, so that they return some of the land that was given free to them in the first place, is inappropriate. For Catherine Hill Bay, the Memoranda of Understanding were signed by the Minister for Planning in 2006 allowing Rosegroup to develop 600 dwellings, and Coal & United 300; this in an area that currently only had 100 houses. This will result in a village of 100 homes becoming a suburb of 1000.
The village of Catherine Hill Bay is an intact mining village that is the only example of a company-owned, 19th and early 20th century coal-mining village on the coast of New South Wales. This is a unique remnant of much historical interest and value, and Minister Sartor had previously promised that he would put Catherine Hill Bay on the State Heritage Register as only the second town in NSW to attain this standing. Instead he signed the MOU allowing development in return for some other land being dedicated to conservation.
The Coal & Allied project for Nords Wharf is 90 home sites on ten hectares of land. Nords Wharf area is significant bushland, with necessary habitat for a number of threatened species of flora and fauna that should be protected.
Gwandalan has been selected for development of 200 sites on sixteen hectares, which was previously earmarked for release in 2011 by Wyong Council. The main objection is that it has been included in this MOU because the Rosegroup had been refused permission to rezone. Gwandalan is not even part of the Lower Hunter Region and should not be considered as such now.
The only benefit for the Government is obtaining land for a National Park at no cost to them, but the developers will make a lot of money. The people of NSW will lose, however. The combined effect of global warming from the loss of trees, the loss of irreplaceable flora and fauna, the loss of aesthetic amenity, and the increased travel distances and dependency on polluting vehicles for people moving there has to be considered realistically.
Gwandalan is not close to schools, public transport, work opportunities, shopping centres, or medical facilities. So the future residents would be dependent on cars, which does not comply with any sustainability criteria. It has always been believed that this land would become National Park at the conclusion of coal mining; this is the first Government to even consider development in the area. The proposals are not acceptable to the community.
Please note this extract from the Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)’s Conservation Assessment of Lands of the South Wallarah Peninsula, which includes all three areas under discussion:
“It is the position of the DEC that the South Wallarah study area is of extremely high conservation value and that development opportunities across the site are limited due to the potential for incremental habitat loss and fragmentation. While some existing disturbed areas may be suitable for development without severe risk to the integrity of the remainder of the site, others will need to be rehabilitated to ensure the long term viability of the corridor network, particularly the north-south linkage on the eastern side of the highway.”
What do readers, residents and Christian Democratic Party members think about this? Email me.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.
