Save The Riverstone Wetlands

Dear Premier and Ministers,

Western Sydney communities should not have to endure increased flood risks and biodiversity loss because of backroom deals with the developer lobby.

I urge you to ensure that the proposed rezoning for the Marsden Park North Precinct Development Proposal is refused. It appears this rezoning has come about solely due to lobbying efforts from Morris Iemma’s lobbying firm on behalf of developers.

I am very concerned about the development’s serious and irreversible impacts upon the Riverstone Wetlands, one of the last remaining refuges in Sydney for migratory shorebirds.

The entire Marsden Park North Precinct contains rare and endangered ecosystems including critically endangered ecological communities. In particular the Cumberland Plain Woodland on the site, of which only 5% remains, faces increased degradation and extinction due to fragmentation and urban development. Rezoning that facilitates industrial development will likely result in localised extinctions.

The site is home to outstanding biodiversity and a diverse number of threatened species. I am particularly concerned that development will gravely impact the Cumberland Plain Land Snail, the Green and Golden Bell Frog, the Swift Parrot and the Regent Honeyeater.

The site of the Riverstone Wetlands is one of the final flood-free refuges for migratory shorebirds during flood events. The replacement wetland is inadequate because it is half the size of the habitat proposed to be removed, is deep not shallow for wading birds, is floodprone not floodfree, and bird flight paths are impeded by high flood defence walls.

I note the extraordinary flood risks posed by developing this site.

I appreciate that the residential aspect of this proposed rezoning has been scaled back. However, any residential or industrial development on this site will significantly increase the evacuation risk both for people within the Precinct at the time of a flood, and for adjacent communities.

In the 2023 flood risk report on the previous rezoning proposal, Transport for NSW specifically noted that “lower yield numbers did not sufficiently reduce evacuation pressures on Richmond Road to address cumulative impacts on the broader floodplain.”

The flood risk report for this proposed rezoning states that “Sensitive uses that require high levels of assistance with evacuation such as…educational establishments, centrebased childcare facilities, and hospitals not be permitted within the precinct.” Despite this, the Indicative Layout Plan within the Development Control Plan includes 2 sites for educational establishments.

Given the impacts on biodiversity and the significantly unsuitable nature of the site for any kind of development, I am of the view that this rezoning proposal should be refused in its entirety.

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

The Riverstone Wetlands is one of Sydney’s last remaining refuges for endangered birds, but it’s set to be bulldozed because of dirty backroom-dealings between Labor Premier Chris Minns and the property developer lobby led by former Labor Premier Morris Iemma.

Can you send an email today?

The Riverstone Wetlands is one of the last havens for migratory shorebirds in Sydney, it’s home to some of the last remaining populations of the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frogs, and it’s essential habitat for critically endangered birds like the Swift Parrot and the Regent Honeyeater.

But now, NSW Labor want this area razed by development.

The Marsden Park North Precinct rezoning will be disastrous for wildlife and disastrous for people!

Development on this site will radically increase flood risk and complicate evacuation procedures for the people of the Hawkesbury-Nepean area. It’s so high-risk that NSW Labor cancelled this development in 2023, but they’ve now reversed that decision after developer lobbyist Morris Iemma got in the ear of Labor Premier Chris Minns.

Send an email and demand that NSW Labor put the interests of the people and the wildlife ahead of the interests of the developer lobby.

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

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