Save The Riverstone Wetlands

To whom this may concern.

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission to the Marsden Park North Precinct Development Proposal. I would like to register my objection to the proposal.

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

The entire Marsden Park North Precinct contains endangered ecological communities, including critically endangered ecological communities. In particular the Cumberland Plain Woodlands on the site, of which only 5% remains, faces increased degradation and unviability due to fragmentation and urban development.

The site is also 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.

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

Whilst I appreciate that the residential aspect of this proposed rezoning has been scaled back, I note that any residential or industrial development on this site will significantly increase 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.”

I note that 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 submit that this rezoning proposal should be rejected in its entirety.

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

The Riverstone Wetlands is one of Sydney’s most biodiverse places, but it’s set to be bulldozed thanks to dirty backroom-dealings between Labor Premier Chris Minns and the property developer lobby led by former Labor Premier Morris Iemma.

Can you make a one-click submission 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 is on public exhibition now. Not only is this development disastrous for wildlife, it’s disastrous for people!

Development on this site will radically increase flood risk and complicate evacuation procedures for the entire Hawkesbury-Nepean. 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.

Make a submission by 5pm Friday Jan 30th - and tell NSW Labor that the Riverstone Wetlands belongs to the wildlife, not the developers.

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

Save The Riverstone Wetlands

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