NSW Environment Group urges Coffs Harbour Council and State Government to protect Corindi Beach Wetl

Monday, 10 May 2004 10:00

 A NSW environment group has urged Coffs Harbour Council and the Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources to ensure that an old approval for a development in a wetland behind Corindi Beach is not allowed to proceed.

Total Environment Centre coastal campaigner Fran Kelly said the proposed development in the highly flood prone SEPP 14 listed wetland should never have been approved in the first place because of the potential environmental impacts on such a fragile site.

"It lies behind the sand dunes only metres from the beach. The former Pristine Waters Council knew how sensitive the site was because they applied such stringent conditions to their approval that it would be almost impossible to not break them. They included no clearing, filling, constructing a levee or draining the land, which begs the question why they ever approved it at all," said Ms Kelly.

"However, this didn't stop the construction of a road on the site, which included the use of fill, and it didn't stop Pristine Waters Council approving a building application which shows that without enforcement those conditions are meaningless," said Ms Kelly.

"Our concerns have also been compounded by the fact that an approved and now cleared 52-lot subdivision site adjacent to, and upslope of, the wetland has already changed the flooding pattern for the area. If this wetland development goes ahead, the flooding is likely to increase further as the site's permeable surfaces are covered."

"Had Pristine Waters still been in charge of this site we would have lost hope that it would be protected. However, the change of council to Coffs Harbour gives us hope. If they and DIPNR combine to ensure the conditions are enforced, the site could be saved" 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/