Goodbye scenic protection in Narrawallee

Once upon a time- Shoalhaven City Council talked to the residents of the Milton /Ulladulla/ Narrawallee area and resolved to create a scenic protection zone to maintain the seaside village feel of the area and to stop urban sprawl from creating a super suburb Mollywalleedullaton.

That scenic area is once more under threat as Hanson Pty Ltd try to horse trade their environmental land that is zoned for housing for their scenic protection zoned land for housing.

Image taken from the flora and fauna report of the applicant contained on Shoalhaven City Councils Website. the pink portion is were the new subdivision is going and the lime green is the area known as Garrods Lagoon
 

This issue has been a vexed one for some time. As you can see from the diagram above Hanson own the area rimmed with green and pink. The green area is a sensitive water course and the bushland in this section effectively and naturally treats storm water run of before it runs into Narrawallee inlet. You could build homes in here but it would have a hugely negative impact on the lake.

Up in the pink section there was approval to subdivide a further low density housing section that was advised to the residents as being 19 new home blocks with a vegetated buffer separating the two.

The State Government brought in legislation that allows for trading called Voluntary Planning Agreements and in an effort to break the gridlock of the Narrawallee issue council entered into an agreement that allowed Hanson Pty Ltd to get a higher yield on the pink section while placing the green section into conservation. But it seems that the developer isn't seeking a fair trade but trying to maximise the options by requesting a 45 lot subdivision.

Looking at the aerial map though doesn't tell the whole story. For it doesn't show what land is already approved for subdivision and new projects which will bring about a drastic reduction in the bushland around Narrawallee.

There have been a few submissions calling for the subdivision to be at least scaled back to the original intent.

Although the Flora and Fauna reports claim that the impact of clearing 6 hectares in this location is negligible and a strict plan of management should be adhered to when clearing occurs. The report fails to cover the cumulative impact in this location in respect to the projects that already have approval.

Having the lagoon area put into conservation is a win, it was once described to me as the lakes 'kidneys', but do we really understand the cumulative impacts that will occur in this area should more land clearing happen?

Some residents on Leo Drive suffered from further water inundation when the last lot of clearing was carried out 18 months ago- bushland destroyed, large trees turned into mounds of chip and not one block has been sold. Seems like a real lack of understanding of ecological systems to me. 

When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.

Previous blogs on Narrawallee

http://amandashoalhavengreens.blogspot.com.au/2010/03/leo-drive-losses-wildlife.html

and our young people held a forum to raise awareness about alternative planning

http://amandashoalhavengreens.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/future-is-in-our-hands-alternative.html