Tuesday 2 February 2016
The main purpose of the meeting was to finalise Guiding Principles regarding development of the NSW area for inclusion in the LEP (Local Environment Plan). Damon Cusack of Ginninderra Catchment Group stated that GCG had determined that it could not support the Guiding Principles drafted over recent weeks because it understood that the conservation line submitted with those guiding principles would be unchanged from that previously established despite the recent discovery of Rosenberg’s monitor in the falls area.
Tony Adams confirmed that the rezoning proposal has already gone to the NSW Government with the current conservation line outlining the boundary between the conservation area and the development area. Community consultation will occur in July. The purpose of the Guiding Principles was to accommodate the concerns raised by GCG and others, and to reach a compromise position. Riverview accepts the Guiding Principles but the line stays where it is.
Most of the NSW area is currently zoned E3 which Damon and David Wong considered appropriate given the presence of Rosenberg’s monitor, even though there was little scientific basis for that zoning when it was applied. Obviously, there had been some suspicion that the area warranted that zoning.
Tony considered there was not enough evidence, at present, to warrant changing the line. There was reference to the ‘grey area’ which is outlined on a draft map that has not been publicly circulated. A copy was shown and discussed at a previous meeting and was produced again at this meeting but then carefully withdrawn. This grey area shows the areas that might potentially be included in the conservation area following further research.
Damon and David were adamant that current evidence of Rosenberg’s monitor was sufficient to change the line now. Urbanisation is one of the biggest threats to this goanna and, in this case, will result in massively increased use of the habitat area by people. The precautionary principle should prevail – better to submit a conservatively-drawn line for zoning purposes and then fine-tune it later when development starts. With current knowledge, there is enough basis to define a much more conservative line.
Tony commented that land initially included as environmentally significant in a development proposal is rarely ever returned for urban use after zoning. He emphasised that, if Guiding Principles are included in an LEP they have to be considered, with the potential for ultimate appeal to the Land and Environment Court.
There was obvious frustration on the part of the Riverview people at the strong line taken by Damon and David. Damon indicated that this was the decision of the GCG committee and he and David could do nothing more until the committee discusses the matter further.
Tony Carey produced a one-page condensation of the Guiding Principles document in accordance with the structure of such statements for inclusion in the LEP. This will require careful consideration to ensure that it effectively covers the issues raised by contributors.
Missing elements of the Guiding Principles to date are: sightlines (on the agenda) and aboriginal heritage (Wally Bell working on this). Professional advice on the value of Guiding Principles needed.
Add new comment