<< Peninsula New 26 February 2007 - Public protest to save bush >>

Public protest to save bush

The decision to destroy the endangered bushland, Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland (UCSW) at Veron Rd has now been postponed until after the State Election.

When this development proposal returns to Council after the election, we can expect the pro-development council to give the nod to this outrageous project.

What then for the rest of the Peninsula?

Over-developed and over-populated, we already have a deficit of open space for the current population.

If we can't save the little bit of open space that we have when it is considered worth being "nominated for national listing under the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act." (Peninsula News, February 12), what is the point of having such Acts?

What a tangled web of stupidity and negligence is being woven here.

The Gosford Council, that wisely refused this destructive development and won its decision in the Land and Environment Court, has now asked the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) for its concurrence in approving the same destructive development.

The DEC having asked the Federal Government to ensure UCSW is protected by recognition in the EP&BC Act is now lending its concurrence to see that the site is destroyed.

The Council report states that the significant and large corkwood tree on the site will be killed by the excavation that will occur around it.

The DEC says that its requirements have been met to a "sufficient standard".

I don't believe that this is good enough.

I don't believe that council's report is sufficient to satisfy the concerns of the community.

It appears our only resort will be to take this matter to court and to that end we will be having a public information and support morning at the site on Saturday, March 3, from 9am to noon,

We need people to show their commitment to saving this last bit of bush.

People can sign a letter of support or agree to donate hard cash should this proceed to court.

We will also have a letter to the Premier asking that he instruct his Planning Minister to "call in" this development and declare this land "state significant" for its protection in perpetuity.

Bryan Ellis, Save Our Suburbs Umina