Plans to build a $45.7m caravan park in Cudgera Creek would result in the destruction of habitat that is home to threatened species such as the little bent-wing bat, Tweed Council documents reveal.
In an application coming before this Thursday’s council meeting, Arbus Pottsville Ltd is seeking consent for the demolition of existing structures and the construction of a caravan park containing 267 long term and 12 short term sites on a sprawling 120-hectare site at 1183 Cudgera Creek Rd.
The development, listed as being owned by a Mr Gregor King, would also feature a club house with two pools, a bowling alley and a pickle ball court.
There would also be significant ancillary works, including the construction of access roads, landscaping, and the installation of essential services including private wastewater infrastructure, stormwater treatment and water supply.
With the project valued at far more than $30m, the Northern Rivers Planning Panel will ultimately decide the fate of the Development Application.
However, the developer also requires consent from Tweed Council because their proposed access roads cross Council land and the increased traffic into the site requires the construction of a new road bridge.
In their assessment of this aspect of the project, Council staff found that vegetation at the location of the proposed bridge and road upgrades had significant ecological values which would be significantly impacted if the project went ahead.
The values impacted include listed ecological communities, over-cleared vegetation types, threatened species habitat and waterways/riparian areas.
‘Three species identified as Serious and Irreversible Impact species under Biodiversity Conservation Act are proposed to be cleared,’ Council staff said in their report, which ultimately recommended that Council refuse permission for the components proposed to occur on Council land.
They also expressed the opinion that the biodiversity impact assessment commissioned by the developer and prepared by Biodiversity Australia, had incorrectly discounted the likely presence of threatened species.
This included the little bent wing bat and the large-footed myotis, both of which were ‘considered likely to use the impact area for foraging and/or roosting’.
Council’s Sustainability and Environment Unit have recommended that owners consent not be granted as the proposal did not acknowledge all threatened entities present, did not sufficiently document suitable measures to avoid and mitigate impact to threatened entities, including Serious and Irreversible Impact species; and did not meet ecological setback requirements for the area.
The matter will come before this Thursday’s Council meeting for debate and a vote of councillors.
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