Developments

The site at 13-19 Steve Eagleton Drive in South West Rocks recently saw the site cleared of trees for an approved 27 lot subdivision 

A snap action was called and local attention brought to the town with media coverage and a large gathering of people concerned about the rapid demise of our local bushland.  Settlers Ridge is also a contentious issue with important local Dunghutti law encrypted in the land.  The rate in which the trees were felled, without the approval and overseeing of the operation with local community, shocked our community but also saw the beginning of the demise of our natural habitat and wildlife corridors.

The proposal involves the clearing of 12.35 ha overall. Plans allow for a 138 lot development.

Phase 1 Stage 1 (T6-17-177) has already been completed.

The next stage (T6-20-211) will be cleared this week after the developer gave the required 48 hours notice.

The remaining stage (T6-20-507) is with council waiting on additional information from the applicant.

According to the KSC Website

"As a part of planning for the development, a large area neighbouring the development, identified in green below, has been established as a biodiversity stewardship site by the NSW state government under the previous biodiversity stewardship scheme.

A biodiversity stewardship site involves a landholder agreeing to conserve native vegetation and threatened species across their property in return for ecosystem credits (given for protecting vegetation communities) and species credits (given for protecting threatened plant and animal species). 

In this case the biodiversity stewardship site takes up 28.8 hectares out of the total 40.4 hectares of the total site.

As a declared biodiversity stewardship site, it will not be cleared or developed upon, with the exception of some Asset Protection Zones along the residential boundary which will be cleared to reduce fire risk."

Contradictory reporting states that despite the efforts of the developer over the past year to source a local site, and then a regional site to fund a like-for-like biodiversity stewardship to offset their development, none were available.

We continue to monitor the upcoming DA's and are using our plaforms to inform our community.

Our community is fighting hard to save our coastal village.  The propsed Rise Projects on Phillip Drive is not only ecologically wrong but would change the scape of our town forever.  It would set a precedent for further blots on our landscape. More frightening is the damage it will do to our critical wildlife and habitat.  

As submissions for stage one have been lodged and we are ready to keep fighting this development.  KSC took Rise Developments to court and won yet the developer has not removed the fencing or signage.  

The developer lodged a development consent for a tourist resort on this site (Lot 2 DP1091323) with Kempsey Shire Council in 1991. It was approved in 1993. This was over turned last week and clearing has begun. KSC council called and extraordinary meeting on Thursday 6/4/23 where 8 - 1 voted in favour of not appealing the court order. 

In late 2021 the developer submitted an application to Council for a construction certificate to commence works on the site.

Council did not issue a Construction Certificate on the basis that the developer did not adequately demonstrate they had substantially commenced work within the required five year timeframe of the 1993 development consent approval.

The developer filed an appeal against this deemed refusal in the Land and Environment Court and the case was heard in December last year.

The Land and Environment Court ruling, published on 1 March, found in Council’s favour, declaring that the consent had lapsed and the application for a construction certificate be refused.  (KSC.nsw.gov.au)

Not only are there plans for the initial proposed building there are other stages which will have a long lasting impact on our town.  We maintain the right not to live concrete and privitisation.

Lot 10 Gilbert Cory Street South West Rocks is a critical wildlife habitat and MUST not be developed into 143 dwellings of different sizes.  We know of engandered frogs species and flora that once gone, will not come back.  It is critical that we jump on this DA as soon as it appears and start our engagement re this development now.

The property has mixed zonings with 15.45ha* capable of development as a land lease community or a traditional residential subdivision (STCA). A concept plan prepared by deWitt Consulting indicates a potential yield of 143* residential lots having an average area of 648sqm* (Colliers.com.au)
 

It is not yet clear what the plans are for the new Hotel being planned for the South West Rocks Counrty Club as the pressure we applied for the origional DA worked and they have had to go back to the drawing board but one thing for sure is it will exceed height limits, set a precedent and create a false economy with in it's own grounds.  We are watching this space very closely and are getting prepared for what's ahead.

This disasterous development should never have been approved.  It's proximity to Salt Water Lagooon alone should have stopped this one in its tracks.  Unfortunately the slat bush and fauna were cleared at an alarming rate and with it has come environmental damage not broadcast by the developer.  We have uncovered potentially damaging things which directly effect the health of our water systems, Front Creek and surrounds.  We are currently finding grounds on which to halt part of this development and it's areas like this that need expert assistance and input.