No safeguards for rare bushland

Last Tuesday Gosford Councillors voted nine-to-one to approve the Development Application that will destroy half the Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland on the Catholic site, corner of Veron Road and Hillview St in Woy Woy.

Cr Terri Latella was the only councillor to oppose the DA.

In supporting the DA's approval, councillors accepted the proposal that the only way to save half the UCSW on this site is to bulldoze the other half and cover it with prestigious luxury retirement villas.

They referred to this absurdity as "common sense," and omitted any reference to other ways rare bushland has been restored.

They made no mention of the successful rehabilitation of UCSW by volunteer community groups on two other sites nearby.

They also argued they had no choice because the DEC concurrence report supported the DA, and so there were no legal grounds to refuse it.

And they reiterated the benevolence of the developer in providing compensation of $225,000 and agreeing to care for the rare bushland that wasn't destroyed by the construction.

Many of the statements they made have been refuted by information provided by objectors to the development.

The decision highlights the lack of environmental safeguards for rare remnant bushland like Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland, and for the habitat it provides for endangered fauna such as the bush stone-curlew.

In speaking to the recommendation, councillors:

said they were only able to act on information that had been provided by staff * said that their "hands are tied" and they were "in a straightjacket" because both council staff and DEC officers had recommended approval * believed there was little likelihood of successfully defending a rejection in court * acknowledged the strong community opposition and expectation (that was "far too high") that the application be rejected * congratulated the objectors for ensuring environmental matters were addressed Shirley Hotchkiss, Umina