THE final decision on an independent hearing and assessment of the Riverside development is expected to be finalised late next month.
The Planning Assessment Commission, which replaces the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel that previously undertook the advisory role, is conducting a review of Crighton Property’s Riverside proposal in Tea Gardens.
The independent body will review submissions made by the public and proponent, Crighton Properties at a public hearing held last Tuesday.
Following their review, the commission will submit a list of questions to the proponent whose response will be assessed in a final report sent to the Minister of Planning, MP Kristina Keneally who will then refer the judgement to the Department of Planning to be finalised.
The commission will advise the department on ecological impacts to the Myall River and nearby wetlands plus the removal of vegetation and its location within a regionally significant habitat corridor. Additionally, hydrological impacts of the development will be assessed to ascertain whether the proposed sensitive urban design measures will result in adverse impacts on groundwater.
A further hydrological review measure flooding impacts for the subject site and surrounding properties. At a public hearing, held at Hawks Nest Golf Club last Tuesday, the commission heard submissions from half a dozen local residents and businesspeople concerned with these ecological impacts.
Local business owner, Lee Anderson was among 40 residents who attend and said, as it stands, the Riverside development is out of scale with the coastal character of Tea Gardens’ existing dwellings.
“We are afraid this proposed development of Riverside flaunts all concerns by our community about character retention and enhancement and I quote from the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Housing Strategy May 2006 by Parsons Brinckernoff…‘There is a great danger that the existing character of the study area will be eroded over time through continuous development – acknowledging this is the key concern raised by the community. Aspects which seem to have the greatest potential to reduce the quality of the existing area are poor quality town gateways, loss of vegetation and urban development that is out of scale and character with its surroundings’.”
Secretary of the Myall Koala and Environmental Support Group, Ian Morphett said while the koala group is not opposed to the development it is concerned with the lack of trees and abundance of hard surfaces, fences, exotic plants and hedges proposed.
“We’d like to see a hell of a lot more tree on this site. We’d prefer to see vegetation and trees as opposed to what is in Myall Quays at the moment.”
The threat to local wildlife was a major concern amongst speakers as Mrs Anderson made clear.
“Almost half the site will be subject to land clearing and filling. Native habitat will be greatly reduced and wildlife into small areas where their food, habitat and shelter will be greatly restricted,” she said.
“The inadequate wildlife corridors of only 60 to 100 metres, fringed by a network of grid patterned roads, which in turn encourage faster driving and less security, will the applications tell us, when the development is completed, carry 3,429 vehicle movements per day. In fact the application states a recognition of ‘injury and death to wildlife’. Wildlife will be trapped between roads, developments, fencing and domestic animals.”
Others speakers on the day were concerned over the site susceptibility to flooding and the town’s limited ability to cope with the significant population increase the development would impose.
The commission is expected to hand over their final report to the NSW Department of Planning by the end of May.
Email a friend