Steep land could be cleared, claims CEN

On the eve of the comment period for Gosford's draft LEP closing on May 5, the Community Environment Network has claimed that "reduced controls on steep land mean that up to 300 hectares could be cleared for residential development at Umina and Pearl Beach alone".

The Pearl Beach Progress Association has also complained that "the zonings proposed for council-owned lands in Pearl Beach significantly increase their development potential".

Meanwhile, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has criticised the absence of future rezoning to accommodate a projected population growth.

The Community Environment Network said most of the changes made in the Draft LEP were not readily obvious to the public.

"This includes changes allowing development of housing on steep lands, less restrictions on bed and breakfast accommodation, increased densities in lagoon catchments and limitations on coastal development to protect homes," according to Network chairman Mr John Asquith.

"It appears that council are now required to include in the draft LEP changes that were announced in the 2005 Planning Reforms by the State Government.

"These changes were quite widespread.

"In particular, the reduced controls on steep land mean that up to 300 hectares could be cleared for residential development at Umina and Pearl Beach alone.

"Steep lands are often in scenic locations, may consist of unstable rock or clay and be highly erodible potentially adding sediments to waterways.

"In addition, a fundamental flaw in the LEP is that it does not adequately protect the Coastal Open Space System nor does it protect biodiversity and the many Threatened Species that have been mapped in Gosford."

Mr Asquith said the network wanted council to include existing mapping of high conservation lands in the LEP.

He said that while the Draft LEP would reduce protection on conservation lands it would also unleash residential development on steep lands that had been protected for decades and have other undesired effects.

He called for council to amend the Draft LEP to protect high value conservation lands and to restore controls which protect catchments, neighborhoods and steep lands and for the LEP to be re-exhibited to the public.

Pearl Beach Progress Association president Mr David Denton said: "We are concerned that the zonings proposed for council-owned lands in Pearl Beach significantly increase their development potential above existing levels in Gosford's Planning Scheme Ordinance.

"At no stage has the Pearl Beach community requested that the development potential of these lands be increased to the level contemplated in the Draft LEP.

"This increased growth potential is also inconsistent with Gosford Council and NSW Government strategic planning objectives.

"Pearl Beach has not been identified or proposed as a growth area in a regional, sub-regional or municipal plan.

"The people of Pearl Beach are justly proud of their beautiful natural environment and we want to ensure that it is protected from inappropriate development.

"Our association supports the preparation of a new LEP.

"We have a number of concerns, however, about the Draft LEP in its exhibited format.

"We understand that the Draft LEP conforms to a template set down by the State Government, which cannot be changed.

"However, Gosford council has added many clauses to the basic template and in the process seems to have ignored the environment altogether.

"The Pearl Beach community had shown its overwhelming support for our submission with more than 100 people attending a meeting in March to discuss the implications of the Draft LEP."

Meanwhile, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said its submission dealt with its concerns on the projected population growth for the area, the absence of future rezoning and an introduction of unnecessary and unjustified restrictions on residential development.

"The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce recognises the need for the speedy introduction of the new planning controls," Mr Wales said.

"However, the new controls should be carefully reviewed with the view to meeting the objectives of the Central Coast Regional Strategy and ensuring that the most cost effective development controls are implemented.

"Therefore, the Chamber urges Gosford Council to arrange a forum between leading industry and business groups and councillors so that key areas of concern can be discussed and agreement reached on critical areas of the Draft Gosford LEP and Draft Gosford DCP."

Press release, 28 Apr 2010 John Asquith, Community Environment Network Letter, 29 Mar 2010 David Denton, Pearl Beach Progress Association Letter, 2 May 2010 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce