Locals have said they are ‘shocked’ at the attempt by MASS developer to put forward an application for a ‘temporary’ access to the contentious 60 Tringa Street development when they are also seeking ‘permanent access’ along the same route under a Referral under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Act (EPBC).
The application for ‘temporary access’ will be heard at today’s Tweed Shire council planning meeting and has been recommended for approval by staff.
‘This so-called “temporary” access has been on the table for at least 20 years and has never been established relevant to significant constraints, including two tidal water bodies to cross, so it would seem the developer has vehicles/trucks with wings and fly!’ one local, who asked not to be named, told The Echo.
The zombie development site was originally approved in 1996 and had primarily lain dormant since that time.
The site, which was bought by MAAS a Dubbo developer last year for over $20m, was cleared in March this year without referring it to the EPBC as required under a condition in the amendment to the DA in 2012. It is understood that the flood prone site located on the Cobaki Estuary, Tweed River had contained koalas as well as ecological communities on the site that are protected. These were the Subtropical eucalypt floodplain forest and woodland of the New South Wales North Coast and South East Queensland bioregions and the Coastal Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland, Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh.
Permanent access
In the referral for permanent access that is currently under consideration MAAS states that there are no migratory species impacted. However, locals have pointed out that at least 14 migratory species listed under the EPBC including migratory species protected under the CAMBA/JAMBA International Agreements have been recorded in the immediate area of the proposed action.
‘Bird surveys have been undertaken on the Cobaki ecosystems for decades with more than 220 species and more than 30 Migratory species, including four listed “critically endangered” recorded,’ said Lindy Smith, president of the Tweed District Residents Association and Ratepayers.
‘Thus, under the Commonwealth guidelines it is considered “important national habitat”.
‘This development has a dark history and there has been no assessment/consideration of critical matters and the formal request from Council for specific details for the crossing over the water bodies has been defied. There has been no penalty for a number of breaches of the Development Consent, and the provision for the management of acid sulphate soils for the industrial subdivision site has been swept aside, with consequential adverse impacts on the estuarine ecosystem and infrastructure potentially significant.
‘Surely the liveability of our communities and adaptation to a resilient future should be up there as a priority,’ said Ms Smith.
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