NSW GOVERNMENT URGED TO DIRECT TAREE COUNCIL'S PLANNING

Friday, 20 August 2004 10:00

Pre-emptive and alleged illegal clearing and rezoning of protected lands for development on Greater Taree Council's coast has led a peak NSW environment group to call for State Government intervention.

The Total Environment Centre has urged the NSW Government in a letter to make the Council's LGA a priority area for State-directed planning and coastal protection.

"The speed and extent with which land of high conservation value is being cleared in the lead up to or following rezoning approval by Taree Council is cause enough for the State Government to step in now," said TEC coastal campaigner Fran Kelly.

"There is an urgent need for both the regional Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) to take strong action against clearing and for the Minister to take the lead on directing planning and development decisions in this Shire."
 
"In just the last few months there has been a spate of approved rezonings of protected lands, the scuttling of a recommended Tree Preservation Order, and alleged illegal and pre-emptive clearing in the lead up to or following rezoning recommendations of lands containing high conservation value vegetation and threatened species. There has also been the replacement of good environmental studies and strategies with those commissioned by and favouring developers and the incorrect placing of developers' asset protection zones within wildlife corridors," said Ms Kelly.

"This pattern has occurred in the Harrington, Wallabi Point, Old Bar and Hallidays Points areas of the coastal zone so it is hardly isolated incidents here and there," said Ms Kelly.
"Advice and recommendations by Taree Council's Director of Planning and Building coupled with approval by a majority of Taree Councillors have led to this sorry state."

"It has got to the point now that unless the Minister intervenes to counter this pattern and DIPNR takes strong action against clearing, there will be little left to deal with in the not too distant future," said Ms Kelly
 

For further information

Contact
:
Fran Kelly - Coastal Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/