SOUTH COAST MAJOR DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM BEST CHANCE TO END DEVELOPER-DICTATED PLANNING

Friday, 22 October 2004 10:00

NSW peak environment group Total Environment Centre has described the south coast major development moratorium as the "best chance to end developer-dictated planning decisions and to implement a sustainable future "

TEC coastal campaigner Fran Kelly said "most planning to date on the south coast has been based on the rezoning and development demands of land owners and speculators rather than the capability and suitability of the land,"

"The moratorium from Nowra south will allow a step back to try and turn things around and implement good environmental planning based on ecological sustainability. Unless this is done, vital infrastructure, water resources, sustainable agriculture and fisheries and the environment will be undermined," said Ms Kelly.

"There has been a spate of carbon copy monolithic housing estates springing up along the coastline over the past few years in particular, from Bega to Sydney, with little thought given to impacts on water resources, waste and sewage demands, infrastructure and services such a transport and health care,"

"The environment has suffered enormously with loss of bushland, wildlife, habitat for threatened species, wetlands, lakes and rivers impacted by pollution and sediment filled run off, and foreshore areas increasingly "privatised" as private houses dominate dunes," .

"The very reasons people have moved to the south coast are being destroyed, and despite a huge vacancy rate, with much of the growth being in holiday and investment properties the growth seemed set to continue. This break is the best thing that could have happened," said Ms Kelly.

"We congratulate the NSW Government for taking this step and have hope that the future strategic planning that takes place at State and Local level is something that puts the environment and residential amenity first and will be something to hold up as an example to other coastal areas in Australia."

For more information contact Fran Kelly or Jeff Angel on 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/