Crunch Planning Inquiry Submission

Dear Committee, 
I am concerned about inappropriate development on the far South Coast of NSW, specifically the ability for developers to develop land where the original consent was granted more than 5 years ago, where you would expect the DA to have lapsed. This type of development is generally being referred to as a Zombie DA.
A current Zombie DA of concern is Stage 13 of the Mirador residential development between Merimbula and Tura Beach on the NSW far south coast. Consent was originally granted in 1989 however this land has remained untouched by development. 
The forest is approximately 10 hectares in size of high biodiversity value with many hollow-bearing trees. It provides critical habitat for wildlife and the only safe corridor in the vicinity for ground-dwelling fauna to move between coastal waters and habitat and the Bournda National Park and Bega Aboriginal Land Council land. It is home to threatened species including the Yellow-bellied Glider, Long-nosed Potoroos, Glossy Black Cockatoos, Gang Gang Cockatoos and the endemic Merimbula Star Hair, found only in small pockets in Tura Beach and a species at risk of Severe and Irreversible Impact. It is a recorded annual migratory foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot. It also supports Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wombats, Echidnas, Lace Monitors, Microbats and Bandicoots.
While there is a need for more affordable housing, this development and many like it up and down the NSW coast will not address this. 
With the growing impacts of climate change, bushfire and development on species decline the NSW government must:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Order a moratorium for all residential DAs over 5 years old where substantial development is yet to commence until they can be reassessed under current legislative instruments. This includes developments that are identified as staged, where the specific stage has been previously approved as part of the overarching development application, where development has not yet commenced.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Protect this land (Stage 13, Mirador) immediately to preserve the habitat (including critical hollow-bearing trees) and endangered and threatened species from destruction.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and re-assess this consent and all development approvals older than what are covered by current environmental and planning Legislative Instruments including the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Establishment of a NSW government fund for compensation for owners of Zombie DA sites that don’t comply with current planning and environmental legislation to be used for purchase of the land by the NSW government for their biodiversity to be retained in perpetuity, or support a land swap arrangement for NSW Crown Land identified as appropriate for use and of equal monetary value. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assist local councils to work with private industry to procure “Greenfield” development sites specifically for the purposes of building affordable housing for their communities.</li>
</ul>

Crunch Planning Inquiry Submission

Up and down the coast, the NSW Government has given developers the green light to bulldoze thousands of hectares of bushland for development. From Tura Beach on the far south coast to Kingscliff in the Tweed, inappropriate and unsustainable developments are being considered by councils and Regional Planning Panels. It’s clear that the NSW planning system is failing communities and the environment and needs serious reform.

Developer RCL Group purchased the land in 2011 and has approval to begin stage 13 of the Mirador Estate residential subdivision on Mirador Drive. This Zombie DA was approved in 1989. Bega Valley Council has confirmed that all further stages of the subdivision can take place without further community notification.

The impacts of this planned development includes the threat to endangered and threatened species of flora and fauna, and damaging protected riparian and watercourse zone connected to Back Lake.

You have the opportunity to have your voice heard. We call on you to make a submission to this inquiry!

Crunch Planning Inquiry Submission

Crunch Planning Inquiry Submission

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