Planning system is at stake, COSS protection is urgent
Another higher level of confusion has been added to the planning and development assessment process by the chair of the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council, Mr BJ Duncan (Peninsula News, February 20).
Essentially Mr Duncan has commented that the Land Council is seeking "to have self-determination for how they use their land" at Kariong.
Exactly what this implies is mind-boggling.
It is obvious that now is the time to revisit the rezoning of Coastal Open Space System land to protect it in perpetuity before vital environmental land is traded-off for development.
If the Land Council believes it has the right to "self determine how they use their land" then every other land owner can claim the same right, which of course will lead to total breakdown of the planning system.
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch has recommended residents refer their objections to the Regional Planning Panel.
If the Panel is not committed to ecological sustainability and is persuaded by the "self-determination" argument, the proposal will be approved.
Such a decision is sure to be used as a precedent in appeals to the Land and Environment Court.
This threat to the planning system alone is good reason to support public objections. There are many more.
The pressure to develop now easily exceeds the ability to provide ecologically sustainable development - now a dream only for optimists.
SOURCE:
Letter, 28 Feb 2023
Norm Harris, Umina