COSS group rejects Catholic land

Gosford Council's environment committee has recommended against purchasing Catholic land at the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St under the Coastal Open Space System (COSS).

The committee has told council the site does not contain sufficient landscape, scenic value, environmental or recreational characteristics in comparison to other identified parcels of land for inclusion into the COSS or Western COSS.

Community representative Mr John Wiggin and Cr Terri Latella asked that their names be recorded in dissent.

Council's principal environmentalist advised the meeting that the COSS Environment Task Group had considered a request from the Melaleuca Wetland Revegetation Group on the potential acquisition of site, as it contained an endangered ecological community.

The request from the group was considered by the COSS Environment Task Group, which undertook an environmental assessment of the site in accordance with the criteria developed for the prioritisation of land suitable for acquisition into COSS and Western COSS.

The assessment determined that the site had "a low score of only 23 in comparison to other sites yet to be acquired by council, which had received a score of 78".

Council's principal environmentalist told the meeting that, pursuant to clause 18 of IDO 122, funds acquired through the bonus provision could only be used for the purchase of 7(a) Conservation zoned land.

If council had decided to purchase the site, it would have to purchase the land using its own funds or alternative sources of funds that were not directly associated with COSS.

The consideration of this item was "widely debated by committee members", according to a staff report to council.

"After careful consideration of the issues, the committee resolved to decline the request for council to purchase the land," the report stated.

Council agenda EC.020, October 3