Ecologists and residents are concerned about the impact on local native fauna a prolonged construction period would have if the currently proposed Bayview Golf Club on course development is approved. At this stage the development has a build time of 18 months, with improvements to the golf course to take place first and then be subject to what will happen when any construction takes place.
The scheme to 'play through' is admirable and necessary if the club is to maintain 18 holes throughout the construction period as well as mitigate any flooding issues prior to any construction taking place - the course was built, after all, on reclaimed swamp and wetlands. However, most builds do the excavations, lay the ground slabs, put in the trenches for pipes and OSD's and then start lifting walls etc. first - landscaping, including outreaching perimeters of landscaping such as lawns (laying turf), are the last items to go in due to the muddy mess most building sites are during builds; one of the reasons it's Law to put in silt barriers and Law to fence off the perimeter of sites so people don't fall into a trench.
The club has been urging its members to make submissions on the proposal, many doing so and stating in these that the proposal will 'Establish actual real corridors for wildlife that do not exist at present'.
The statement is echoed on the golf course's website under the Waterbrook - Land Owner webpage; 'The actual establishment of currently non-existent wildlife corridors.'
This must refer to the plants slated to be established around the new construction and grounds after the build as the course and its perimeters are well established as rich in fauna and fauna habitat, with the ecological report submitted with this Seniors Living DA confirming the area is a significant wildlife habitat, specifically of a pair of Powerful Owls and 2 owlets, listed as Vulnerable under the NSW Biodiversity Act and 7 vulnerable species of bats.
From the report : “the Southern Myotis, Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Eastern Falsistrelle (Falsitrellus tasmaniensis), Little Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus australis) and Eastern Freetail Bat (Micronomus norfolkensis).
“These threatened microbat species were recorded from echolocation call within the area encompassing the proposed seniors facility.”
There were also 2 breeding colonies of microbats located.
From the report “Goulds Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus gouldi) and the Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) although not threatened, the site supports breeding colonies of both species.”
The creek line adjoining the site is a known breeding area for both resident and migratory bird species such as the Sacred Kingfisher, Channel-billed cuckoo, Lyrebirds and other birds. The area is also regularly visited by Glossy black-cockatoos and Square-tailed Kites, both Vulnerable species too, and home to resident fauna species including swamp wallabies, goannas, diamond pythons, tree snakes, lyrebirds, echidnas, possums and recorded sightings of over 80 bird species.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage states, updating its Powerful Owl (Vulnerable) webpage on December 1st, 2017;
"Pairs of Powerful Owls demonstrate high fidelity to a large territory, the size of which varies with habitat quality and thus prey densities. In good habitats a mere 400 can support a pair; where hollow trees and prey have been depleted the owls need up to 4000 ha.
Powerful Owls nest in large tree hollows (at least 0.5 m deep), in large eucalypts (diameter at breast height of 80-240 cm) that are at least 150 years old. While the female and young are in the nest hollow the male Powerful Owl roosts nearby (10-200 m) guarding them, often choosing a dense "grove" of trees that provide concealment from other birds that harass him.
Powerful Owls are monogamous and mate for life."
The campaign to have as many members as possible upload as many statements of whole hearted support, some identifying themselves as such, some not, has also seen a few double ups of the exact same support for submissions, which is people making sure it got through, that could bring a smile at the other end of where these submissions are going. As the club has around 2,258 members, there may be a few.
Among these submissions it is pointed out the development is needed to secure the financial viability of the club after the $7.2 million new clubhouse build of 2009 left the club in a bad spot, money wise.
This development proposal is another that is causing problems between individuals in the community - people who are members and people who are not wanting to stay the friends they were prior to the March 2016 granting of a Site Compatibility Certificate (SCC). Everyone, members, residents and those who must be both all want Bayview Golf Club to continue to exist, some even stating money slated for the Pasadena compulsory acquisition would be better put towards maintaining this green space so the club celebrates its centenary.
Residents are concerned with the appropriateness of the DoP's granting of an SCC in 2017. They believe that the second SCC was approved erroneously, and that there are a number of reasons why it should not have been approved, however there is no process to appeal the decision, not even Council can appeal the decision.
The recent Frenchs Forest community outrage over the wholesale granting of SCC's and adjustments to same, which residents state still leaves loopholes, combined with anger over developments being tried for everywhere on the Northern Beaches, with proposals ranging from 4 to 6 to 17 stories, without any infrastructure in place; no roads, no doctors and all else needed, and requests for LEP's to be changed to allow them, means the February 12th cutoff period for submissions could attract as many lodgements as the current petition against the proposal, with over 4500 objections if those signing that decide to double up and ensure council as well as the current Planning Minister hears from them.
Set on 2 hectares of Bayview Golf Club's 33 Hectares, the construction is for seven (7) separate buildings of predominantly 3-4 storeys in height to be operated as a retirement village (within the meaning of the Retirement Villages Act 1999);
− Basement parking for 186 cars, loading and servicing;
− Landscaping works, including ground level landscaping for the creation of a communal open space area for future residents; and
− Extension/augmentation of services and utilities to service the development.
− Construction of a road facilitating access into the proposed seniors housing development from Cabbage Tree Road and a round-a-bout on Cabbage Tree Road (and associated pedestrian crossing); and
− Construction of an access pathway from the site through to the bus stop on the eastern side of Annam Road.
Surrounding residents are very worried about evacuation issues if there are fires.
The Warringah and Pittwater Bush Fire plan from the RFS has large areas near the planned development marked as fire 'probable' and the consequences 'catastrophic'.
The safe evacuation outcome for all residents in Bayview depends on the roads not being blocked and all residents including the many seniors villages already in Bayview being able to leave through the few available small roads.
As this development plans to add yet another roundabout onto Cabbage Tree road, and have at least 200 residents and staff requiring evacuation, this will just present yet one more road block and choking point for all surrounding residents.
One resident stating this week
"It is already a risky area to evacuate from, it does not need more choke points and more residents requiring urgent evacuation whilst fire and emergency trucks are trying to get in to the area to fight the fires.
There is a crest in the road on that stretch of Cabbage Tree road which road has two black spots on it. There have been fatalities and severe accidents on this road close to the entry."
Residents are concerned that if this application is approved it will create a significant precedent.
"If seniors 4 storey apartments can be built in the middle of a high priority wildlife corridor, and that's not considered 'environmentally sensitive' nor worthy of protection, then we can expect similar large scale seniors living complexes to be built on any wildlife habitat or ecologically sensitive land in the Northern Beaches.
"If the DA is approved and 4 storeys is allowed on this site then expect to see 4 storeys or higher everywhere in the vicinity, including on rural land that borders on any residential land (under SEPP Seniors Housing legislation). Also on other golf courses in the NBC area or see even further development on this same golf course site, as a precedent will be have been established. Once this precedent happens Council will have no power to enforce height rules. If this is DA is approved then the SEPP Seniors Living legislation and the SCC legislation will be used by developers to develop as much land as possible all around the area.
Residents are shocked that approval was given even though the site lies within a long established, council designated, high priority wildlife corridor and is a recognised habitat for vulnerable and significant species. Others state the location for the constructions was chosen because it has trees on it and is not currently usable as golf course due to the trees.
"To us this suggests that they don't understand that the actual golf course, even the cleared areas are important wildlife corridors, not just part of the corridor. The trees they plan to remove is a section that is an important remnant area old trees that acts as a 'stepping stone' to other bushland areas to the north."
How the community keeps its beloved Bayview Golf Course, a private, not public club financially viable and still the vital part of the ecosystem it sits in presently may be yet another case of the horse having already bolted.
As the Cost of Work is listed as $ 84,131,144 the proponents will go to the Sydney Planning Panel North if refused by council.
Photos of Bayview bird wildlife corridor fauna supplied by residents on the perimeter of the golf course, who didn't want anyone to know how many and how much was here in case it brought in all those who love to see these in their natural habitat, but now reluctantly give them up as they state they need to prove they exist, run below.
