The Future of Tweed

Friday the 30^th is the closing day for submissions on the draft Tweed Shire Local Environment Plan (LEP), the Tweed Centre LEP and Council’s Water Management Strategies.  Council will usually accept late submissions if arranged prior to the deadline.  These over arching plans will determine the future direction of environmental protection and sustainability for the Shire.

In relation to the Shire wide LEP Council’s user guide clearly states that this “stage 1 is a rollover of the existing LEP and that some minor changes have been included”, and goes on to state that “the intent of the Vegetation Strategy has now been incorporated”.

This is clearly not the case.  The Tweed Shire has lost more than 8000 hectares, about two thirds of the environmental zoned lands, and has been prevented by the State govt from including the extra provisions designed to still protect these and other significant areas across the Shire.

Of even greater concern is the directive by the State Govt to remove Council’s clearing controls.  These extra controls addressed some of the huge gaps in the State govt’s controls.

These plans are a disaster for this internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot that already has, to our great shame, the highest concentration of threatened flora in Australia (Tweed Shire State of the Environment Report 2009).  Close to 50% of all mammal extinctions that occurred globally in the last 200 years were in Australia (website: Great Eastern Ranges NSW DECC).  80% of the Shire is classified high or very high conservation status.  This is a fantastic natural asset but for these reasons development in this Shire should be of the highest standard.

There are also concerns about raising heights and densities of development across the Shire.  The Tweed Centre LEP is set to raise Tweed Heads, Sydney style, to the horror of the Tweed Heads Residents Association.

There is a provision in this LEP process to request a public inquiry due to the loss of environmental protection and the densification of Tweed or any other significant issue requested.

The aims of the LEP and the objectives of the zones are open to input.   To recognise our current predicaments and provide a new way forward I believe the ‘aims’ of the LEP, at section 1.2, should also include:

a). To provide the highest standard of environmental protection appropriate to this internationally significant environment and this highly sensitive Australian wildlife, and to reverse the decline of biodiversity in line with Australia’s international obligations.

b). To reverse the decline of this highly significant Aboriginal cultural landscape and to protect and promote Aboriginal cultural values.

c). To protect this National Iconic visual landscape and the internationally significant geological feature of the Tweed Caldera.

d). To provide for sustainable food and water security.

e). To provide for healthy communities, improved urban design and connection with nature.

f). To provide for a sustainable population size within the environmental carrying capacity of the Shire and to account for the ecological economics of development.

h). To halt the peak of carbon emissions from the Shire in line with recommendations of the International Panel on Climate Change and to require optimum sustainability outcomes across all levels.

The Council’s Water Management Strategies also do not achieve optimal sustainable water use even in the new developments, and propose an option to dam Byrrill Creek which has been classified as having the highest riparian conservation status in the Shire.

Community representatives are urging submissions focus on:

a)  Requesting a review of the proposed water management, including for the new developments of Cobaki Lakes, Kings Forest and Bilambil Rise, by the Institute of Sustainable Futures University of Technology Sydney, and

b)  A prohibition on Byrrill Ck dam due to its irreplaceable conservation significance.

“This is the first generation to be fully aware of the impacts of climate change and the last generation to be able to do anything about it”.  Deputy Lord Mayor of London Nicky Gavron.

For further information please see www.calderaenvironmentcentre.org.

Regards,

Clr Katie Milne

General Manager TSC
PO Box 816
Murwillumbah NSW 2484

The Hon. Ms Kristina Keneally MP, Premier
premier@nsw. gov.au
GPO Box 5341,
Sydney NSW 2000

Attached please find a pdf of notes containing issues that many Tweed residents and owners find objectionable. You may wish to use these as the basis of your own submission,.

*Please get this out to all your networks* and encourage people to put in a letter AT VERY LEAST calling for an INQUIRY INTO THE DRAFT LEP UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 68(1) OF THE EPA ACT  as it applies to this draft LEP.

———————————————-
Below is the gist of a complaint that has been sent to the General Manager:

In summary:
- In the course of the public exhibition process for draft Tweed LEP 2010, a member of the Tweed Shire Council planning staff has discouraged individual members of the public from making submissions on public interest matters
- The document published by Tweed Shire Council entitled ‘Tweed LEP 2010- User Guide Section 1C- ‘How does as LEP affect me? How do I lodge a submission’ discourages individual members of the public from making submissions on public service matters.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO OPEN PDF’S CONTAINING INFORMATION THAT MAY ASSIST YOU IN WRITING YOUR LETTER

summary1a[1]

summary2a[1]

LEP

for

Kings Forest, Cobaki Lakes and Bilambil Rise Developments

The Minister for Planning is currently assessing these three massive developments.

This is an opportunity to request that these developments be reviewed to achieve the highest environmental and sustainability outcomes worthy of the Tweed’s internationally recognised environment.

Tweed has the highest number of threatened flora species in Australia (State of the Environment Report 2009).  Our Koalas are in serious trouble.  It is our international duty to reverse these declines.

The Chairman of International Panel on Climate Change says that we only have until 2015 at the latest to halt the peak on carbon emissions.  According to the Chairman it would not exceed more than 3% of the world’s annual economy to reverse these trends.

New planning standards are now essential.  It’s time to insist that new subdivisions be truly carbon neutral and to provide positive impacts only.

Please write to the Minister for Planning Tony Kelly to strongly request the State Government commission an independent peer review by the Institute of Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, to provide for a ‘leading world best practice’ standard for Sustainable Subdivisions.

Leading world best practice standards are required for outcomes in:

a)         sustainable urban design, energy efficiency and public transport

b)         sustainable water use, water sensitive urban design, sewerage and waste management,

c)         employment opportunities and encouragement of a green economy,

d)         social planning (especially for youth and ageing populations),

e)         Indigenous cultural heritage,

f)          food security,

g)         environment,

h)         open space,

i)          climate change response, including filling issues and risk management,

k)         section 94 developer contributions plans,

l)          other relevant issues that arise.

Kings Forest – 12,000 people.

A recent Freedom of Information request has unearthed files showing the Planning Dept, under Min. Frank Sartor, overruled advice from the Dept of Environment which required dedication of the eastern, south eastern and north eastern potions of Kings Forest for environmental protection.

Kings Forest has 452 different species on site with 30 threatened listings.  75 koalas utilize the Kings Forest area, with at least 15 resident Koalas on site.  This is a vital koala stronghold.

Cobaki Lakes – 12,000 people

The Cobaki area is one of the most significant Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes in the Tweed being a massive campsite area.

There are 643 different species and 28 threatened listings are recorded for the Cobaki Lakes site.

Bilambil Rise – 5000 people

“The site is of extreme importance to biodiversity, with Parks and Wildlife Division Area Manager John Hunter describing the area as “arguably some of the most significant remnant rainforest areas in the State and probably contains more specimens of threatened rainforest plant species than any areas of comparable size in the State”. Council letter Dept of Planning Oct ‘09

International Significance

“Australia is one of 17 countries described as being ‘megadiverse’.  This group of countries has less than 10% of the global surface, but support more than 70% of the biological diversity on earth.  Of countries containing large endowments of biodiversity, Australia is unique in another very significant way.  Of all the countries classified as megadiverse, Australia is one of only two countries in the high income category.  This position carries a special responsibility and implies that a high standard of biodiversity protection can be expected in Australia.  It also carries with it an opportunity too for world leadership”. (Aust Govt website: State of Environment report 2001)

The Australian Government listed Border Rangers Tweed Caldera, as one of the 15 biodiversity hotspots around Australia.  “These hotspots were identified to increase public awareness of the cost effectiveness of strategic and timely action to conserve biodiversity.  In hotspot areas, timely intervention may prevent long-term and irreversible loss of their values, and provide high return on our conservation dollar”. (Aust Govt website: Biodiversity Hotspots)

“The Earth is experiencing the 6th massive extinction event of its evolutionary history – the 5th was 65 million years ago.  The conservation status of Australia’s biodiversity reflects the global situation. Close to 50% of all mammal extinctions that occurred globally in the last 200 years were in Australia”.

http://www.greateasternranges.org.au/nature/wildlife/global-extinction-crisis

“Tweed has the largest number of threatened flora in Australia.   80% of bush land in Tweed has high (or very high) conservation status” (State of the Environment Report Tweed 2009).

This World Class environment deserves world class planning practices

The Sustainability Commissioner auspices an organisation set up buy the Victorian State Government called SUSTAINABILITY VICTORIA. The role of this organisation is to ensure that Victorian homes, towns and communities are both resilient and sustainable – environmentally, socially and (not just) economically-  in the face of climate change.

NSW needs such a Commissioner. Please write to the Premier and Minister for Planning (Kelly) demanding the appointement of such a person in NSW.

We can also ALL write the the General Manager Tweed Council demanding the immediate appointment of a TWEED SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSIONER.  If they could afford to pay a massive salary to the Administrators PA a couple of years ago- they can certainly find the money for this!

- Kings Forest

- Cobaki Lakes

- Bilambil Rise

CLICK HERE      Kings Forest, Bilambil, Cobaki

Please write to Planning Minister Tony Kelly to ask for a review for Cobaki and Kings Forest for both the environment and for Leading Worlds Best Practice sustainable subdivisions and keep in mind the water use is wrapped up with Dam issues too.

The Hon. Tony Kelly, MLC
Minister for Planning
Level 34 Governor MacquarieTower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone (02)92283999
Fax (02) 9228 3988
Email planning@lpma.nsw.gov.au
sharon. armstron g@lpma.nsw. gov. an
2. And NSW planning officer dealing with Kings Forest
Stuart Withington on 92286546
email Stuart.Withington@planning.nsw. gov.au
3. And planner for Cobaki
Annette Birchall on 02 9228 6490.
email Annette.Birchall@planning.nsw. au
4. The Hon. Ms Kristina Keneally MP, Premier
premier@nsw. gov.au
5. TSC@tweed.nsw. gov.au
with a request to forward to all Councillors

CLICK HERE   water management submission due 30 April

Mt Warning. Symbol of the Tweed Shire is northern NSW. This magnificent area of NSW is home to one of the most biodiverse areas in Australia  and is under immediate threat of being destroyed through over development and inappropriate development by the NSW State Government.

This blog has been set up to call on everyone in the Tweed and people across NSW to help us save this magnificent part of the world.

International Significance
“Australia is one of 17 countries described as being ‘megadiverse’. This group of countries has less than 1 0% of the giobal surface, but support more than 7 0o/o of the biological diversity on earth. Of countries
containing large endowments of biodiversity, Australia is unique in another very significant way. Of all the countries classified as megadiverse, Australia is one of only two countries in the high income category. This position carries a special responsibility and implies that a high standard of biodiversity protection can be expected in Australia. It also carries with it an opportunity too for world leadership”.

(Aust Govt website: State of Environment report 2001)
The Australian Government listed Border Rangers, including the Tweed Caldera, as one of the 15 biodiversity hotspots around Australia. “These hotspots were identified to increase public awareness of the cost effectiveness of strategic and timely action to conserve biodiversity. In hotspot areas, timely intervention may prevent long-term and irreversible loss of their values, and provide high retum on our conservation dollar”.

(Aust Govt website: Biodiversity Hotspots)
“The Earth is experiencing the 6th massive extinction event of its evolutionary history – the 5th was 65 million years ago. The conservation status of Australia’s biodiversity reflects the global situation. Close to 50oA of all mammal extinctions that occurred globally in the last 200 years were in Australia”.
http://u’vvw. greateastemranges.org.ar-rlnature/wildlife/global-extinction-crisis

“Tweed has the largest number of threatened flora in Australia. 8A% of bush land in Tweed has high (or very high) conservation status” (State of the Environment Tweed 2009).
This World Class environment deserves AND NEEDS world class planning practices