Veron Rd options to be pursued

Gosford Council will continue to investigate options for purchasing land at the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St, Umina despite a report by Council staff suggesting it would be difficult.

The Council voted to explore viable funding opportunities other than those from the Financial Strategy and Coastal Open Space System.

It also voted to investigate funding through the Federal Government National Reserve System Funding Grant.

However, the Council voted down an amendment by Cr Craig Doyle to obtain legal advice at the same time about a recent ruling on land at Ballast Point.

The landmark case to come out of the Land and Environment Court was over a parcel of land the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority acquired at Birchgrove from Caltex for $14.38 million in 2002.

The land had an $800 000 option to purchase on it from five years earlier for developer McRoss, now Lang Walker.

Under the ruling the State Government had to pay out $60.5 million in compensation to the developer in compensation for the potential value of a developed property, even though Council did not approve rezoning the land to residential.

Cr Doyle said he was disappointed cuncillors had voted down his amendment.

"I've read the ruling by the Court.

"Other councillors haven't," Cr Doyle said.

"It's the same as we have here."

Communications manager for the Diocese of Broken Bay, Ms Annie Corrett said that it was not up to the Diocese.

"We have a formal agreement with the developer.

"They are the party with whom communication for the purchase of the land should be made," she said.

Developer Mr John Zavolokin said the Council had not approached him about the sale of the land.

"We are open to offers, but it has to be what we consider fair offer," he said.

"At this stage, we are a bit confused.

"We haven't really heard anything.

"Council needs to deal with us, but they need to take the right approach."

Mr Zavolokin said he would not comment on the Ballast Point case but emphasised that any offer from council to purchase the land would have to be fair.

He said there was a vocal minority who wanted Council to buy the land.

"There has also been letters of support to me, one from someone who has lived here 25 years.

"There are also a lot of people who don't care about such a small parcel of land.

"Is it really worth spending tax payers money on such a small parcel of land?"

Mr Zavolokin also pointed out that they had been investigating the land for over 18 months, but only after they lodged a DA did objections come forth.

"The land was zoned by Council 2a which means it is of no environmental significance," he said.

He also pointed out that they had done extensive environmental planning on the site with consultation by ecologists and arborists.

At Council's meeting on August 3, Liberal representative for Peats Ms Debra Wales and Save our Suburbs representative Mr Bryan Ellis spoke to Councillors urging them to purchase the environmentally sensitive land.

"It is a vital matter to the Peninsula community," Ms Wales said.

"Open space is needed in the most densely populated area of Gosford City.

"It's not a question of dollars or politics but a question as to the health and well being of our local neighbourhood."

Ms Wales cited the importance of the land's link to Brisbane Water National Park, as a wildlife corridor and the abundance of grass trees, birdlife and paperbarks.

"It is a precious piece of forest and a vital part of the quality of life on the Peninsula," she said.

"It should be paid for out of developer contributions."

Ms Wales also expressed concern about the lack of comment from the Environmental Planning section of Gosford Council about purchasing the land.

"If you are not sure then defer the application until Environmental Planning can prepare a report otherwise its true value will be lost forever to the community," she said.

Bryan Ellis said he had previously commented to Council about the environmental significance of the land.

"I believe this report is a redundant report.

"Council's only option is to buy the land," he said.

"Reasons for refusal of the development application are abundant," he said.

"There are three types of threatened lands on this block alone.

"I dispute the mapping done by the developer about what areas would be saved.

"This could be the only suite of plants of its kind in Australia."

Mr Zavolokin, the applicant/developer for the site also addressed Council.

"Before I got involved we looked long and hard to find the land.

"We used arborists and ecologists Council themselves have used in the past on flora and fauna issues.

"I read all the objections to the development with interest and tried to talk to the objectors.

"We have used experts and tried to pinpoint every single tree.

"Our expert was the one to first characterise the Umina sandplain around Umina oval and the soil structure on this site is a different structure.

"This development footprint will only be on 30 per cent of the site, the villas will hover above the site.

"All the grass trees will be transplanted, we have submitted a bush management plan with the application and this presents an opportunity everyone to have the land managed by us," he said.

At the meeting Cr Terri Latella, seconded by Cr Drake, moved that Council continue to explore its funding options.

"This land is environmentally significant both in environmental aspects and vegetation but also because of the social justice claimed by purchasing this site of land," Cr Latella said.

"It is an important site bringing harmony to the Peninsula area.

Cr Drake said the land had stirred up a lot of local concern.

"I'm concerned that once this land is sold it can't remain in public ownership.

"If there is funding I believe it should be in the public domain.

The Council staff report suggested that funding from Federal Government National Reserve System Funding "would be unlikely to be successful".

The report also suggested that funding could come from Coastal Open Space System funds or the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Financial Strategy.

It did not list Section 94 Contribution Funds which were commonly used to purchase and upgrade recreation space.

Alison Branley, August 3