Strong case for preserving Catholic land

The assessment by Gosford Council of parkland in Dulkara St, Woy Woy, provides strong grounds for preserving the sensitive native bushland owned by the Catholic Church.

This land is located on the corner of Hillview St and Veron Rd in Woy Woy, and is currently the subject of development applications to build 44 villas.

The proposed development includes the destruction of native vegetation and of habitat for species threatened with extinction.

For instance, the remnant of Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland on the site, an endangered ecological community, would be destroyed.

The three reasons given by Gosford Council's environmental planning director for retaining the Dulkara Rd site are 1000 times more applicable to the dense, diverse, pristine and sensitive vegetation on the Catholic land nearby.

The Catholic site's vegetation covers the whole site, and includes two endangered ecological communities.

It provides habitat for species threatened with extinction, such as the glossy black cockatoo, swift parrot and grey-headed flying fox.

It also has a population of bandicoots which will be destroyed by the proposed development.

Apart from the 30 mature trees, the Dulkara St site has been denuded of vegetation for many years.

There is no understorey there, no native shrubs, and minimal wildlife. It is an off-leash dog exercise area.

Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland isn't just about the big trees it contains.

Although it has been defined by a combination of small and large plants, biodiversity considerations include the seedbanks in the soil, the organisms, as well as the insects and wildlife supported by the plants and soil.

Twice last week glossy black cockatoos were feeding on casuarina trees in the vicinity of this proposed development.

This species usually feed near their nest, and this family group includes a youngster, indicating they have had a nest nearby.

Instead of destroying the remaining casuarina trees and larger trees for nesting sites, we should be preserving them and growing more.

Shirley Hotchkiss, Umina