Lismore City Council has recently resolved to enter into Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPA) with the Winten Group, one of the two property developers who have been looking to develop the North Lismore Plateau, in relation to their 450-lot subdivision development application (DA) for site. The VPA would be in relation to biodiversity conservation matters and infrastructure provision.
‘This will assist in reporting the DA to the Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) once final consultation and reporting on Aboriginal cultural heritage and biodiversity issues are completed. It is anticipated that Council will be in a position to finalise the assessment and report the Winten DA to the JRPP for determination around late July or August,’ said a spokesperson for the Lismore City Council.
However, Al Oshlack a representative of the North Lismore Plateau Protection Association (NLPPA) who oppose the development of the plateau has said that ‘this development will never go ahead.’
‘If this DA ever gets consent from the Joint Regional Planning Panel we will be challenging it in both the state and federal courts on already established grounds. These include environmental grounds as there are a number of endangered species on the plateau. There are also a number of Aboriginal sites in the area that have not been properly investigated and there is an unmarked grave with bodies in it that needs the be exhumed and examined by experts.’
The second development consortium, The Plateau North Property Group (PNPG), have advised Council they have recently identified additional threatened species on their land, and have been caught by recently enacted provisions under the Biodiversity Conservation Act that may require significant re-design of their subdivision proposal. Lismore City Council has said that it is unknown when Council will receive a DA for the PNPG land.
Thank you Al Oshlack for opposing the development. Just look at the photo. That is lush vegetation of rainforest reminiscent of today and in past Aboriginal times, of Australia’s First People. Have we not done enough to Aboriginal heritage? That is a wonderful photograph of peace and tranquility of our Australian bush. Listen to the bird calls and the call of the wild. Lismore Council, be ashamed of yourselves. That bush is what God made.
I have only just discovered the importance of the sleeping lizard and am teaching a group of preschool age children about how lucky we are to have this place. It saddens me to think they may be the last generation to see the sleeping lizard in its current state. The protection of this site is for all of Lismore’s future residents.