Memorial Ave land provides significant habitat
I am writing to voice my strong objection to Council's proposed sale of 23-23a Memorial Ave, Blackwall (Council Agenda, April 27).
The sale of this land is not in the community interest as it provides significant habitat for a range of species, provides a key role in cooling the surrounding area and also serves a significant flood storage and absorption function.
Given the recommendations in Council's own draft Greener Places Strategy and the significant heat island effect identified at Woy Woy, it makes no commercial or community sense to sell this land for development.
The council report states that the vegetation on these lots is not habitat for threatened species.
This is incorrect.
Paperbarks (melaleuca quinquenervia) and swamp mahogany (eucalyptus robusta) and other species on this site are key food species for the nationally and state listed (as vulnerable to extinction) grey-headed flying fox and the swift parrot (critically endangered).
See this recent foraging habitat report: https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/flying-fox-foraging-habitat-2019.
The Grey-Headed Flying-fox National Recovery Plan was adopted in March.
This land has been in Council hands since the 1950s and although not needed for its original purpose is one of only a few areas of natural lowland vegetation in this area.
It is incumbent on Council to protect this remaining vegetation and rezone it for conservation and passive recreation.
Now that the Council has decided to consult the community about this land sell off, I strongly urge community members to formally object to this proposal to sell this parcel of land, and to instead to rezone and protect is for future generations and our threatened species.
SOURCE:
Email, 30 Apr 2021
Sue Ellis, Umina Beach