Natural beauty at risk

The appeal of the Peninsula is the wonderful natural beauty which surrounds it.

With the proposed changes that the LEP contain I feel that we run the risk of losing places such as the Pearl Beach Arboretum, Mt Ettalong and Blackwall Mountain, to name a few.

I understand that these areas are to be included in the RE1 zoning for no other reason but "the LEP template does not contain a Public Natural Areas Zone" (Media statement by Mr Eddie Love, 17 March 2010).

So basically what the decision-makers are saying is that they are willing to run the risk of losing such areas, all because it is too hard to actually find a proper classification for such areas.

God forbid that council may actually have to do some work.

But then again I should not have expected anything else from our local government.

As a rate payer and local resident, I feel that it is about time that we are heard, after all we are not the ones that stand to make money if these changes are to go ahead.

Correct me if I am wrong but the RE1 zoning opens these areas to potential development.

Email, 5 Apr 2010 Susan Slater, Umina Beach