The Death of Lake Wollumboola?

I last blogged on Lake Wollumboola and the possible listing of it as a RAMSAR site. In Shoalhaven World everything must have an 'economic benefit' so I pointed out that a RAMSAR listing had many opportunties for said benefit. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT IS CONSERVATION. Not many places can boast an unpolluted wetland that occasionaly opens to the sea and attracts thousands of birds every year through migration patterns.

But some people have it in their minds that conserving the wetland will somehow damage business and impede the ability of people to enjoy the wetland and its surrounds, these notions are unfounded and short sited.

I came back from holidays to find that the local developer had put in a last ditch effort to develop land of high conservation value on the shores of the lake for a golf course which would clear 40 out of 55 hectares right up to the current conservation buffer zone.

Shoalhaven has on exhibition its proposed new zoning plan which will see the whole area covered with a conservation classification so its hard not to be cynical that this a last ditch effort for any kind of development at any cost.

The developer still has an active Part 3A application sitting with the state government for a housing estate but this isnt about an either or argument- the simple fact is that any development within the Lakes catchment will have an impact on the long term health and sustainability of the lake. Its a principal that should be aheared to as a FIRST principle.

The campaign against the development of the site is building and was reported this weekend in the Sydney Morning Herald

There is still an opportunity to make a comment on this via Sholahaven Councils development tracking so take the time and drop a line it doesnt need to be an essay just express your feelings on this proposal go to the end of the page and there is a hyper link Contact Us About this application.