ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF TWEED'S KINGS FOREST SITE URGENTLY REQUESTED

Wednesday, 22 October 2003 10:00

A peak NSW environment organisation has urged the State Government to reapply protection over the Kings Forest site in Tweed Shire to prevent clearing, while calling for the speeding up of approval of a Draft LEP giving its fragile areas more permanent protection

A peak NSW environment organisation has urged the State Government to reapply protection over the Kings Forest site in Tweed Shire to prevent clearing, while calling for the speeding up of approval of a Draft LEP giving its fragile areas more permanent protection.

Total Environment Centre coastal campaigner, Fran Kelly, said the Interim Protection Order (IPO) was needed over the entire site in view of the history of Kings Forest, and the delay by Tweed Council in approving the LEP.

"The IPO was originally applied because of widespread preemptive clearing of the site. This action stemmed the clearing and nothing has changed except the owners. There is no reason to have lifted the order while the LEP remains in limbo," said Ms Kelly

"Tweed's Council appears to be dragging its heels over approval of the Kings Forest LEP. Perhaps it is because it recommends environment protection zoning over fragile areas of the site and a majority of councillors come out in a rash when faced with the idea of looking after something other than developers' profits," said Ms Kelly.

"Kings Forest has a controversial and colourful history, much like the rest of Tweed really. Millions of dollars have exchanged hands over many years and there is no end of incentive to gain approval for subdivision development of the 900 ha site," said Ms Kelly. The false development consent documents produced when the site was owned by Narui Gold Coast were an example of the lengths to which some people will go," said Ms Kelly.

TEC has written to Environment Minister Bob Debus requesting he immediately reapply the IPO to the entire site under the original conditions, until the Draft LEP is approved.
For further information contact Fran Kelly or Jeff Angel - 9299 5599/5680
 

For further information

Contact
:
fran kelly - coastal campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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WWW
:
http://www.tec.org.au/