Friends of Currawong
WHY ISN’T CURRAWONG HERITAGE
LISTED?
·
The NSW Heritage Council recommended Currawong be
placed on the State Heritage Register.
·
FRANK SARTOR (then Minister for Planning and
Heritage) ignored his Department’s advice and appointed his own select
Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel (IHAP) to reassess the heritage
value of Currawong and at the same time to assess the Subdivision
proposal.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE
ECO-VILLAGES PROPOSAL?
·
The proposed subdivision is a gross overdevelopment
in this beachside setting.
·
Rockfall, bushfire danger and rising sea levels are
unacceptable risks.
·
If the development proposal is approved Pittwater
Council ratepayers could bear the costs of any litigation resulting from these
known hazards.
·
The developers are seeking major subdivision and
rezoning of Currawong to sell land for profit.
·
Future beachfront and creekfront houses will be
highly visible from Pittwater and Palm Beach with a height of between 8.5
metres - 9.5 metres.
·
Two pools and a gymnasium are to be built on the
floodplain.
·
The developers are seeking a rezoning to allow unlimited private recreational buildings
and sporting facilities to be built on private community open space (mainly floodplain) without development consent.
·
Car parking and boat tie-up/mooring facilities for
residents are inadequately addressed.
·
This could lead
to pressure for a road to Currawong through
the National Park and a private marina.
·
The so-called public access zone is a narrow strip
along the foreshore. Future owners of property at Currawong can apply conditions to restrict or even prevent
public access in the future.
CURRAWONG MUST BE ABSORBED
INTO KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK.
·
Currawong is a natural extension to the adjoining
National Park Recreation Area - The
Basin.
·
Currawong has all the infrastructure needed for
Environmental Education with school groups.
·
Currawong is ideal for recreational use by
charitable organizations and the general public.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT
SITUATION?
·
The Sartor appointed panel (IHAP) is yet to deliver
its findings. Even if the panel recommends a reduction in the scale of the
subdivision, this would still be a win for Eco-villages, the Developers.
·
A decision in favour of any subdivision on the
Western Shores of Pittwater creates a precedent which breaks Pittwater
Council’s longstanding ban on further subdivision in the area.
·
Regardless of any recommendations from IHAP, the
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, has the sole power to override them and
approve the Developers’ full subdivision and rezoning proposal.
Objectors have no legal
right of appeal. The potential for
corruption is staggering.
PART 3A OF THE EP&A ACT
GIVES THE PLANNING MINISTER THE POWER TO -
·
Decide alone what is a State Significant Site and approve any development on that site.
·
Ignore or overrule objections of local Councils and
communities.
·
Sideline inconvenient Land and Environment /
Heritage decisions.
·
Ignore expert advice, even from the Minister’s own
Department.
·
Make far-reaching decisions that are not subject to
legal appeal.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP STOP
THIS OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE OF POWER
Come to a Rally Against
Inappropriate Development (RAID) on
Sunday October 19th from 10am at Hyde Park in the City. Legendary heritage activist JACK MUNDEY will
be speaking together with SHANE WITHINGTON from FRIENDS OF CURRAWONG and other
speakers from leading environmental groups whose communities are being
destroyed or under threat from overdevelopment under Part 3A legislation.
Please help stop the plundering of our coastline by Developers!
JOIN FRIENDS OF CURRAWONG
NOW AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Membership is free –
donations are welcome. Join on-line at www.friendsofcurrawong.com
Or write to FRIENDS OF CURRAWONG P.O. Box 31, NEWPORT BEACH NSW 2106
Please return later