Council 'condemned' over Blackwall Mountain plan
The Central Coast branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation has "condemned" Central Coast Council for replacing the Blackwall Mountain Plan of Management with a generic plan.
"The generic plan will not address the management and protection of the bushland," said group convenor Mr Mark Ellis.
"The council retained the Kincumber Plan of Management along with other specific Plans, but the Blackwall Mountain Plan was removed."
Mr Ellis said the council-under-administration had breached the Local Government Act and Regulations by transferring natural area bushland and foreshores to general use, after objections by the community.
"The core objectives for the management of land classified as general use or park are significantly different to the core objectives for the management of bushland or a wetland," he said.
"The council has not justified or explained the reasoning to transfer so many blocks of bushland to general use and parks.
"Other areas of land around the Woy Woy Peninsula affected by the adoption of this one-size-fits-all plan include Kahibah Creek, Umina, where watercourses are being changed to park, as well as Mackenzie Ave and the Esplanade, Umina.
"Economic principles are overriding the environmental responsibility of council and the guiding principles of the local Government act," said Mr Ellis.
"The ACFCC group will continue to fight for protection of natural bushland, wetlands and foreshores across the Coast."
SOURCE:
Media release, 28 Apr 2023
Mark Ellis, ACFCC