‘The Department of Planning and Environment has specifically advised that scenic values/protection should not be used as a criteria to establish Conservation Zones’ (Northern Beaches Council)
The Northern Beaches Council (NBC) is proposing land zone changes that – according to residents’ groups – have the potential to significantly threaten Pittwater’s natural environment.
In a nutshell, the NBC is proposing to rezone 3613 properties from C4 zoning to residential zoning (some will move from R zoning to C3 zoning due to identified hazards). That means an overall reduction of 2285 properties currently listed as C4-zoned. According to Mona Vale Resident Association member, Marcia Rackham, ‘This is a reduction of conservation-zoned lands in Pittwater of 50 per cent-plus; 7447 properties will have a C classification and 9347 properties will now be exposed to R-zoned regulations.’
On October 16, a community forum to discuss the proposed changes and formulate a plan for action to oppose them was held at Mona Vale. The following question was posed to the 200-plus gathering of concerned residents who were present:
‘Is there a strong argument for an increase in conservation-zoned land and to see all existing conservation C4 lands retained along with establishing a foreshore scenic protection area from shoreline of waterways to ridge?’
The forum was organised by 11 community groups, including the WPCA. It determined a raft of motions for the NBC, including a request that the medium environmental value criteria that form the basis of the Conservation Zones Review should be changed so the biodiversity corridors, urban tree canopies, ridgelines and escarpments be accorded a high conservation value.
For more information on the forum, and the NBC’s initial response, see the latest issue of Pittwater Life (the NBC has rejected some of the claims made by the residents, which you can also read about here):
You’ll be able to comment on the proposed zoning changes on the NBC’s ‘Your Say’ page. You can also sign this petition – which requires 2000 signatures:
Petition: Pittwater Conservation Zones need to Stay
According to one Pittwater resident who attended, Craig Burton’s mapping of the important visual and biophysical landmarks was very interesting – in fact, it seems there were many very interesting moments during the meeting.
Lightly edited, this is an accurate record of the meeting. It’s over an hour long, so if you’d prefer to watch individual speakers, we’ve provided the links below.
Video links
Individual speakers
- Marcia Rackham
- Craig Burton
- Tom Sherlock
- Marita Macrae for Angus Gordon
- Elizabeth Farelly
- Miranda Korzy
- Jenny Cullen
- Rory Amon
- David James
- Elizabeth Farelly
- Tom Sherlock
- Chelsey Baker
- Sue Young
- Marita Macrae
Petition: Pittwater Conservation Zones need to Stay
Perhaps Pittwater residents will also need to lobby for a ‘spiritual health’ impact study à la the Eastern Suburbs (although I’m not sure selfish Baby Boomers are the problem here):
‘Property developers will have to show the impact of building projects on the spiritual health of residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, amid claims a local council is pandering to selfish Baby Boomers and retirees’. See Sydney Morning Herald Article