SANDON POINT

Submission to Planning Minister Frank Sartor
MP 06_0094 Concept Plan, MP07_0032 Project Application Stockland and Anglican Retirement Villages "Residential Subdivision & Aged Care Facility"

To: Director, Strategic Assessments
Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001

I object to the above two subdivision applications for the following reasons:

• Known Aboriginal cultural heritage exists on site. Burial grounds, middens, toolmaking, food gathering sites have been documented (Stuart Huys Sandon Point Aboriginal Heritage Study, DoP 2006).  Sandon Point is an ancient trade and meeting place connecting escarpment and coastal tribes.  The entire site, not just the coastal fringe must be declared as Aboriginal Place of State and National significance.
• Conservation of local biodiversity, the recovery of Endangered Ecological Communities and protection of Threatened, Vulnerable and Migratory Fauna species is a natural constraint on the site that is likely to be significantly compromised by the proposed development. Natural areas including the Turpentine Forest, Tramway Creek Wetlands, Riparian Corridors and Coastal Dunes are likely to be negatively impacted and disturbed by the development and subsequent increase in human activity. The Freshwater wetland at the confluence of Hewitts and Woodlands Creek will be totally destroyed.
• The area of land located between Woodlands and Hewitts Creek is a known floodplain. It is located at the bottom of a steep, high intensity, catchment.
• The width of the catchment boundary at the top of the escarpment is 2200m. The width of the flood plain area located between Hewitts and Woodlands creeks is less than 300m. The Hewitts – Woodlands Creek catchment area west of the rail line is 344ha the flood plain area located between Woodlands and Hewitts Creek is only 6ha. The catchment is funnel shaped and this part of the site is severely flood prone.
• The previous subdivision approved by the Minister in 2006, was rejected by the Land and Environment Court because he failed to consider the impacts of climate change on the site.  The current proposal does not adequately address all the impacts of the development in relation to climate change.
• I object to the reclassification public land at Thomas Gibson Park from community to operational and oppose to the sale of public land. We need more playing fields for sport and recreation to service an increasing population. The community's heritage bridge at Wrexham Rd must be rebuilt.
• Traffic issues in relation Wrexham Road remain unresolved. There are major concerns over the likely increase in traffic via the local roads of east Bulli.

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Claims by the land owners, Council and the Department of Planning that the COI recommendations are "unworkable" remain unsubstantiated.

Land valuations and associated costings for a Sandon Point Regional Park were never independently investigated.  In addition there has never been an economic analysis on the long term financial impact of the development, (i.e. increased rates vs the costs of operation/maintenance/repair of additional infrastructure and extra community services and facilities that will be needed).

ICAC should investigate the land valuation process used to undermine the COI recommendations and evaluate the true costs of a land buyback for the community.  Rezoning and resumption of Aboriginal sites, natural areas and  floodplain land is a most reasonable outcome.

Therefore, I urge the Minister to reject this proposal on the above grounds.

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