Submission Letter :: Item 2 - Review of 7(d) lands

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New closing data for submissions:
26th of October 2013

General Manager
Wollongong City Council
Locked Bag 8821
Wollongong 2500

Item 2 - Review of 7(d) lands - Background Summary Report

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I would also like to make a submission regarding:

Wildlife Corridors,
Riparian zones,
Flora and Fauna losses, and
Local resident input which has significant local knowledge.

Overriding provision's to all areas that:

Existing homes now classified as E2 that a right to rebuild after destruction of an existing dwelling e.g. bushfire, is automatic;
Amend the Wollongong LEP 2009 E2 provision "Permitted with Consent" to read Environmental Facilities; Environment Protection Works; Recreation Works; /and
Owners of undevelopable land may exit the area by way of exit strategy shown as Otford Protection Society Incorporated(OPS) Planning Proposal.

Precinct Issues

"All the lands previously zoned 7d (Environmental Protection: (Class P) Hacking River) should be zoned E2 Environmental Conservation. The E2 zonation guarantees that building cannot be permitted on lots, hence more effectively conserving habitat corridors between National Heritage Listed "Royal National Park" and the Illawarra Escarpment...critical to maintain animal and plant propagule movement from North to south in a future climate change affected regime, and to permit dispersal of species northwards to allow recolonisation of National Heritage Listed "Royal National Park" and Garrawarra State Conservation Area should there be continuing incidents of human lit devastating fires and other impacts that can cumulatively degrade the formal reserve systems of southern Sydney and the Illawarra.

The efforts of Otford Protection Society's gateway Application through NSW Planning which reminds Council of it's past commitments through Local and Department of Planning Regional instruments that the lands of the Upper Hacking are not a designated or desired growth area. The principles in the Illawarra Regional Plan and the Illawarra Escarpment Management Plan and the 2002 NPWS Illawarra Bioregional Assessment Study as further evidence why NSW Planning should accept the objectives and aims within its recent Gateway (Alternative LEP for former 7d lands in Postcode 2508).

While re-emphasising need for strongest possible environmental zonings for former 7d lands at postcode 2508, I support renewed efforts of government through the NPWS and other state federal government agencies, to acquire the more critical core wet AND dry forest corridors for addition to the national parks estate.

Existing land owners may exit the area via the buy back scheme proposed by OPS.

Since the 1960s much of the surrounding land was already zoned non-urban and conservation.

For the future of out beautiful coastline, National Parks, tourism, threatened native animals, and fresh air for Wollongong and Sydney, and less strain on infrastructure this green corridor needs the highest protection, and development limited to suitable infilling within the township. We cannot move the National Parks nor the ocean so we must protect the vital link in between. Nor can we risk further lives to bushfire by trying to evacuate yet more people through the few narrow valleys, as evident is the massive wild bushfires of Christmas 2001. To that end, apart from the recreational & tourism zonings in the Gateway precinct, the remaining bushland precincts must be zoned E2 environmental with existing use rights for approved existing dwellings/businesses.

Areas not covered in report

A review of the report indicates two areas have not been covered.

In the absence of any substantive comment, we consider that the Hanging Swamp (see note), Christian Conference Centre previously zoned as 7(d) lands, and all the land between the F6 and Old Princess Highway up to Darkes Forest zoned - RU2 (2 areas), E3 (1 area) and E2; shall not change or have any lessening of zonation as a result of this review.

Note: The famous Hanging Swamp at Stanwell Tops (not the so-called one at Baines Place) was zoned 7(a) - with the old 6-lot Trade-Off portion on Bendena Gardens as 7(b). Commissioner Simpson's Commission of Inquiry (COI) said the 7(b) portion SHOULD also become 7(a), but maybe never happened. Anyway, the whole Hanging Swamp must become at least E2 Environmental Conservation, and preferably incorporated into the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area as E1 National Parks and Nature Reserves.

Conflict with Wollongong 2009 LEP

I object to the random allocation of building rights in some E3 Environmental Management areas contrary to Clause 4.2A or Wollongong LEP 2009 based on date of building right, rather than size of the built. This decision presents a dangerous precedent for this area.

Conclusion

We believe the only satisfactory long term solution is to merge previously zoned 7(d) lands surrounding Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Park and surrounds into the Garrawarra State Recreation Area by joining onto the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. This would guarantee the (Class P) Hacking River Catchment forever.

A permanent E2 Environmental Conservation fix is required, not developer-driven pressure again and again.

Yours faithfully,

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