LEP threatens bushland, say environmentalists

The Gosford Draft Local Environment Plan has sparked major concern among local environmentalists about the protection of more than 20 public bushland sites on the Peninsula.

Chairman of the Community Environment Network Mr John Asquith said he knew of more than 15 local community groups who had joined together to voice objections to the draft plan currently on exhibition until April 8.

Mr Asquith said the group's main concern was that the draft plan failed to protect the natural environment in Gosford's Coastal Open Space System and other public bushlands.

Nor had it addressed the implications of sea level rise and climate change.

He said the group had urged council to use vegetation and sea level rise mapping in addition to its Biodiversity Strategy, 2008, in its final plan.

"We have identified public bushland reserves on the Peninsula and nearby areas that will lose their environmental protection under the proposed LEP," Mr Asquith said.

"The draft LEP allows a range of unacceptable uses not currently permitted in these areas

"Other councils such as Wollongong, Lane Cove, Mosman and Ryde have either zoned or are seeking to zone their bushland reserves for conservation, why hasn't Gosford?

"The DLEP is a lost opportunity to better protect the environment in Gosford."

Mr Asquith identified bushland reserves on the Peninsula with reduced protection under the proposed draft plan including Pearl Beach Arboretum, Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland next to the Ocean Beach Holiday Park as well as Umina, Ocean Beach and Ettalong foreshores.

More than 100 Pearl Beach residents attended a meeting of the progress association on March 13.

"The people of Pearl Beach are justly proud of their beautiful natural environment and want to ensure that it is not eroded by inappropriate development," association secretary Ms Penny Carle said.

"The DLEP does not identify or adequately protect high conservation native vegetation, environmentally sensitive areas, riparian and other wildlife corridor linkages.

"COSS and other publicly-owned lands acquired and managed for conservation will be zoned as Public Recreation (RE1) allowing a range of inappropriate uses.

"The RE1 zoning will apply to the Pearl Beach Arboretum, the beachfront reserve area (including the dunes), the lagoon foreshore, crown land (the Mazlin farm), Paul Landa Reserve and the Pearl Beach headland where the water tank stands - all areas of high environmental sensitivity.

"Other councils have protected their high conservation value bushland areas with an E2 Environmental Conservation zone."

Ms Carle said the Pearl Beach Progress Association would definitely be making a submission to council objecting the current plan on exhibition.

The Peninsula Environment Group has also joined other local groups and organisations in urging residents to make a submission to the Draft Local Environment Plan.

"The proposed new zoning would open up the Peninsula's last parcels of bushland, such as Blackwall Mountain and Mt Ettalong, to potential development," group president Mr Mark Mann said.

"We feel they should be put in the new E2 zone, which bans any development, not the RE zone the council is proposing.

"I'd urge anyone who wants to see these beautiful spots saved for future generations to write or email the council now.

"There's a draft email letter on the PEG website (www.peg.org.au) which people can use."

Gosford Council will accept submissions to the Draft Local Environment Plan via email at gosford_lep_submissions@gosford.nsw.gov.au before Thursday, April 8.

Press release, 19 Mar 2010 John Asquith, Community Environment Network Press release, 17 Mar 2010 Penny Carle, Pearl Beach Progress Association Media statement, 18 Mar 2010 Mark Mann, Peninsula Environment Group