Local And State Governments Urged to Adopt North Coast Initiative to Stop Excessive and Illegal Land

Monday, 01 September 2003 10:00

Coastal councils and the State Government have been urged by a NSW peak environment organisation to immediately follow the example of a north coast council in attempting to stop widespread, illegal and pre-emptive clearing of native vegetation along the NSW coastline. New financial penalties are also needed said the Total Environment Centre (TEC).

TEC has praised the initiative by Coffs Harbour Council to turn the tide on excessive land clearing. The council has put residents on notice to stop clearing land, warning that they won't be rewarded with development approval and the land will be considered as environmentally valuable as before it was cleared in deciding development applications.

"This is a far sighted and encouraging step that has been taken by one council. It deserves recognition and support on a State level. All councils should be made to follow this path in containing, controlling and dealing with the excessive and extensive land clearing occurring on the coast right now," said TEC coastal campaigner Fran Kelly.

"The coast is increasingly coming under pressure as a result of spiralling coastal land prices and speculative rezoning and development activities. Pre-emptive clearing is occurring at an unprecedented rate as developers attempt to get rid of conservation values to ease their proposals through councils," said Ms Kelly, "The consequences include increased erosion, loss of wildlife and biodiversity in general, water degradation and increased flooding incidents."

"In most cases councils are turning a blind eye to illegal and preemptive clearing and the State Government departments that should be taking action appear weak and ineffective as they fail to step in time after time," she said. "Without clear notice given to landowners that such activity is not on, as Coffs Harbour Council has done, the unsustainable loss of the natural coastline will continue".

"We urge all councils to follow the lead of Coffs Harbour. We also urge the State Government to take the opportunity to follow this initiative and send out the message to all land owners - that preemptive and illegal clearing to gain development or rezoning advantage is not acceptable, will not result in gains and will not be tolerated. If it still goes ahead heavy fines, additional rate levies on the land for restoration programs and the loss of ability to develop the land should be imposed," said Ms Kelly.

For more 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/