Council is responsible for rare woodland, says OEH

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage has told a local resident that Central Coast Council is responsible for the care of the endangered Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland if it is located on land owned or controlled by Council.

Pearl Beach resident Ms Kay Williams had called on Council to maintain an area of the rare bushland located in the Peninsula Recreation Precinct at Umina that had become overgrown with weeds.

Ms Williams said she was not satisfied with the responses she had received from Council and so she wrote to the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Regional biodiversity conservation officer Mr Robert Gibson responded on behalf of the Office that the "Endangered Ecological Community" was "currently the responsibility of Central Coast Council".

"The Office of Environment and Heritage cannot compel Council to undertake weed control works under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

"However, Council may be able to prioritise weeding works if any of the species in the area are listed as noxious within the local government area," he said.

Ms Williams sought further clarification.

She said the UCSW located at Umina was the largest extant area of this vegetation but actually located on "Crown Land for which the administrator is sole trustee".

"Council says in writing it has no money to conserve the area which is ultimately a State Government responsibility as Crown Land.

"How does one alert Council to its responsibilities?" Ms Williams asked.

Mr Gibson replied that: "Money is being made available for the management of Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland through a Saving Our Species project, in which Central Coast Council will be a key player.

"The funds will enable things such as mapping the current extent of this endangered ecological community, assessing threats for all remnants, ranking remnants for on-ground works, and conducting bush regeneration on them," he said.

In a media statement, the Office said: "The care of this ecological community rests with the landowner so this is a matter for Central Coast Council.

"No funding has been given under the Saving Our Species program.

"To guide the Central Coast Council in the management of the ECC, a management plan is in place."

Peninsula News quoted from that management plan in our last edition.

Central Coast Council was also asked to comment on the latest information obtained from Ms Williams.

Council declined to comment explaining that the management of the EEC was related to a review that is underway into certain trusts of the former Gosford Council and there will be a report to the newly-elected council.

SOURCES:

Letters, 29 Jul 2017

Kay Williams, Pearl Beach

Media statements, 3 Aug 2017

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson