August 4 - 31, 2024: Issue 633

 

Lizard Rock (Patyegarang planning Proposal) Update: August 2024

Northern Beaches Envirolink Inc sent an update to the community on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 stating the Lizard Rock proposal (now known as the Patyegarang Planning Proposal) continues to be processed by the Department of Planning. 

''Our campaign team recently met with Michael Regan MP who obtained an update that the Department of Planning is in the process of granting an extension until 31 March 2025 to allow for representatives of the Department to "work with" MLALC to "address planning issues to allow the Sydney North Planning Panel (Panel) to consider the proposal later in 2025". the update states

Submissions made by the public and government agencies will be published in November.
''We are disappointed the Department is allowing this process to drag on, and that public resources are being expended for Department of Planning staff to work with the proponent to try to plaster over the problems with this deeply flawed proposal.'' Northern Beaches Envirolink Inc states

The Planning Proposal has recently been added into the 'Plans for your Area' - ''Priority growth areas and precincts'' list on the Department of Planning website at:  www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/priority-growth-areas-and-precincts/northern-beaches-aboriginal-land

The Northern Beaches Council has stated it strongly opposes the planning proposal to rezone land along Morgan Road in Belrose to permit development for 450 dwellings for its destruction of natural bushland among a range of other concerns, including;

''Council has warned that the planning proposal should be reconsidered in view of significant planning, environmental and hazard issues, including:
  • Bushfire risks – Significant concerns exist regarding the bushfire hazard that applies to the site. Further, the proposal was developed on the premise of evacuation being provided by Morgan Road, including a new slip lane onto Forest Way and a new emergency access onto Oates Place but the availability and utility of these aspects have not been demonstrated in the proposal.
  • Inconsistency with planning strategies – The proposal does not demonstrate strategic merit and is inconsistent with key aspects of the Greater Sydney Region Plan, North District Plan, Northern Beaches Local Strategic Planning Statement – Towards 2040, and Northern Beaches Local Housing Strategy.
  • Inconsistency with Conservation Zones reform – The reform recommends applying a C3 Environmental Management Zone to most of the site due to its high environmental value and the hazards impacting the site
  • Enormous loss of high biodiversity habitat – With 44.7 hectares of bushland to be cleared (equivalent to the size of around 45 rugby fields) the proposal and new development will have significant environmental impact.
''Council has repeatedly advised the Department that the planning proposal by Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) does not demonstrate strategic or site-specific merit and should be rejected.

In April 2022, following a Council Resolution, Council wrote to federal and state MPs and relevant ministers to negotiate an alternate solution and financial model so that the MLALC can benefit financially from its land and that the land is preserved as is – in perpetuity.

Whilst Council supports the intent of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and appreciates the importance of enabling Aboriginal people to achieve economic self-determination through developing land, this proposal however lacks merit due to the significant planning, environmental and hazard issues.

It is this lack of merit that underpins Council’s position. The consequences of the proposal are simply unacceptable and do not reflect the community’s aspirations for this site.'' the NBC states




Photo: residents, Northern Beaches Envirolink and Wakehurst MP Michael Regan holding the petition that was rejected by the current government. Picture: Northern Beaches Envirolink

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