Tweed Mayor Katie Milne is pushing for a Green Star rated sustainable development to be established in the shire.
On Monday, councillors, senior council staff and planning staff met with NSW Planning Minister and Minister for Housing Anthony Roberts, together with his Chief of Staff and advisors to examine upcoming planning challenges and opportunities in the Tweed.
One of the big ticket items that was given serious consideration was the implementation of an urban growth/Landcom style government development corporation to lead quality development projects in either the Tweed Heads CBD or greenfield sites.
The development would provide social inclusion, open space, links to transport and community amenity, coupled with good environmental and built design.
On Tuesday, the Minister and his retinue took a tour of the shire with Cr Milne and Tweed MP Geoff Provest to visit some of the sites discussed at the briefing.
Mayor Milne said she was delighted with the response she received.
‘It was very pleasing to hear the Minister support our desire for quality in our new developments,’ she told Echonetdaily.
‘Tweed really needs one of our new development sites to showcase all the creative community and smart energy planning that is available these days. We need support from the state government to make that happen though.
Cr Milne said that , ‘once one development site sets a new standard they will have a massive competitive advantage’, predicting, ‘others will follow.’
‘I’m sure there would be huge demand for Green Star rated developments in this area if they were available.
‘Our community is one of the most mature, intelligent and progressive in Australia and our environment is of world significance. With so much new development for Tweed passed by the state government over the recent years I hope the state sees this shire is deservedly the right place to lead the way in the revolution of the smarter, greener planning techniques,’ Mayor Milne said.
Ok, political propaganda is the way to go for Tweed Shire Council.
Will the community swallow that without getting indigestion, is the question.
Press releases need to be credible to be effective.
Please pass on to the council:
– land clearing for development must stop ESPECIALLY on the hills and ridges of the caldera, where it causes accelerated dehydration of the forest, by creating an exit point for moist air from under the canopy which has now been destroyed.
– people should be building earth-ships, underground, and tree-houses, such as to minimise loss of habitat, density & biodiversity of species, and loss of both ecological potential & services.
– building a house with a water tank & some solar panels IS NOT an example of sustainability if your house requires ecological systems to be destroyed, and species displaced, for the simple reason that sustainability IS ONLY where if your pattern were repeated, it would not cease being sustainable at any scale or scope … NOTHING ELSE IS SUSTAINABLE
Dear Katie and all the TSC and others.
I like the statement “our environment is of world significance”
Too bad it is all a bit too late!
We now have OVER DEVELOPMENT already in place. Rubbish and Pollution probs. The Tweed River is a border line case of chemical overflow. The Estuaries are now sparsely inhabited by Wildlife. Many birds are gone. The Koala population is almost extinct. Other marsupials and animals have fallen prey to assorted dangers.
I reckon it’s a bit too late but thanks for trying Katie!
Our roadways will not hold the traffic. Queenslanders love to arrive here every weekend with the KFC trash and their jet skis. The hoons are out there in their hotties. The kids are casting lines {with parental supervision} over the top of Pelicans as the Osprey waits for a chance to dive on the bait. Their dogs are running everywhere – off lead and after estuary birds.
Yeah well – I have watched the intelligent progression of the Tweed Coast.
Sorry but the Tweed district has been ditched by previous mad “mature” Tweed Shire Councillors and extreme “jobs” – the developers {with a little help from their intelligent “friends”}
Katie Milne is leading the other progressives on Council in her excellent work protecting and preserving this magnificent and unique area. Residents and visitors don’t want to see this magnificence destroyed by inappropriate development. She is right on the money when she says: “…‘Our community is one of the most mature, intelligent and progressive in Australia and our environment is of world significance. With so much new development for Tweed passed by the state government over the recent years I hope the state sees this shire is deservedly the right place to lead the way in the revolution of the smarter, greener planning techniques,’ Mayor Milne said…”