The only wildlife corridor to
the Royal National Park & Dharawal -through Otford
&
Helensburgh is in
peril from developers & Coal Seam Gas drillers
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Otford
is
nestled in a stunning lush green valley at the southern end of the
Royal National Park. betweenn
the
plateau of Helensburgh and
sheer
cliffs of Stanwell Tops. Unique
to the coast of NSW, that; despite its proximity to Sydney &
Wollongong, much of the 2508 region is still covered in dense
semi-temperate
rainforest, and inhabited by threatened species
such as the
Sooty Owl , Powerful Owl
& Pygmy possums. The region has for decades been a favourite destination for tourists, bushwalkers, surfers, bike riders, and nature lovers. And is now the start of the Grand Pacfic tourist drive to the NSW South coast. Always protected by a ridge line of forest the Otford valley, has retained its micro-climate and cooler moist conditions; feeding the springs of the Hacking river and catchment. Despite the horrific bushfires of 2001 that destroyed much of the Royal National Park, Heathcote and Garawarra & Wilton, Otford remained lush, moist and unscathed - and consequently a haven for the fleeing wildlife It is the only remaining wildlife corridor connecting to the Royal National Park -The deep moist rainforest valley gives shelter in times of bush fire -Intense and high biodiversity & endangered species in land, aboreal & water life -Micro-climate & vegetation - the air filter between Wollongong & Sydney -Encroaching urban sprawl has greatly increased the region's Environmental significance -Unique to the NSW coast & a favourite destination for tourists Please see media release on the impact and ramifications of the proposed Coal seam gas exploration and gas fired power station in the Helensburgh,Stanwell Tops, Garawarra region across the Sydney Water catchment and what a monumental coverup it has been by State Planning, Wollongong City Council, Apex Energy and Peabody Metropolitan Coal Our '2508' and Illawarra community have been treated with contempt. All the campaigns, our meetings, submissions to council, pleas fo answers, and an even a constructive Gateway conservation plan, were to be dismissed before they began. NSW State Labor and Wollongong City Council had been planning and altering legislation since 2003 to allow gas exploration & CSM in our State conservation and water catchment areas, and rezoning for the potential industrial infrastructure and processing plants. And of course despite promises of 'transparency' and community involvement by Council since ICAC in 2008, our Helensburgh, Otford & Garawarra districts and the Illawarra are the last to know. But this beautiful green buffer to the Royal National Park is at risk from developers! B6, E3 & E4. These zonings allow new buildings on land, where no building right ever existed! - which will result in barren earth land, polluted & eroded river catchment & destroyed riparian corridor, native wildlife eradicaton including endangered species, increased pollution and feral pests, & ultimately strangle the biodiversity of the Royal National Park. What ever can flow, roll, crumble or blow on the Helensburgh plateau will eventually end up in the valley and river Wollongong City Council and NSW Dep Planning gazetted the WCC LEP 2009 in February 2010, implementing the new zoning terms and respective restrictions. However most controversial was the translation of the former high conservation 7D zoning into E3 rather than the original applicable E2. E3 under NSW state planning allows new dwellings and various land uses. Even if minimum lot size clauses are applied, the E3 zoning does not prevent land clearing, degradation, high boundary fences, or even livestock damage. Some of the prescinct areas marked for E3 straddle tributary creeks on the edge of the Helensburgh plateau, in a direct line of sight from the Grand Pacific tourist drive. Given the high rainfall of the region, a terrain of clay and coalwash on a sandstone base, and existing negative urban impact held in check by the forest buffer, land clearing would cause enormous soil run-off, and a marked increase in sediment, nitrates and effluent in the tributary creeks and Hacking River (Click any image to enlarge) |
Call for ideas for a new site for
the Helensburgh Tip - Waste Transfer Station New WCC Ward boundaries proposed ஐMedia release on WCC's ' liquidation' of the Illawarra environment & Conflict Of Interest t ஐNo CSG Mining in Water Catchment Video ஐCoal Seam Gas Mining ஐMedia release on Apex Energy & DoPlanning covert plans - What Lies Beneath ஐMore documents on CSG Mining ஐWhat others are saying on CSG Mining ஐTimeline of NSW State Govt & WCC planning &legislation ஐღღஐ
ஐCurrent DA
& Major Projects affecting 2508 areaஐLEP & historic Parish Maps ஐWCC Preliminary Summary & Recommended Amendments to 2010 LEP ஐDECC submission to WCC on the 2009Draft LEP ஐDPrimary Industry submission to WCC on the 2009Draft LEP ஐSutherland Shire Council submission to WCC on the 2009Draft LEP ஐLarge view of proposed new zoning in Otford & its impact on the Royal National Park ஐWCC Preliminary Review Precinct & zoning Map ஐLocal Wildlife Gallery ஐღღஐ
Local media:ஐIllawarra Mercury ஐSt George Leader ஐNIO ஐHelensburgh & District Herald ஐI98FM ஐABC Four Corners 'Gas Rush' Links to action & community groups & individuals ஐNatasha Watson (otfordeco admin) ஐSydney Residents Against Coal Seam Gas ஐLock the Gate Alliance Fractivists(coal seam gas) ஐNational Parks Assoc NSW ஐRivers SOS ஐStop CSG Illawarra Have your say &add your name here: ஐSave our National Park s ஐDA for 61-63 Walker St Helensburgh ஐE-sign to say NO to Apex Energy 's application for an additional gas bore ஐE-sign to Suspend CSG mining ஐE-sign for Dharawal SRA to become a National Park ஐE-sign to Scrap Part 3A Planning Legislation ஐE-sign to Save Coopers Paddock from development |
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