Friends of Pretty Point (FoPP) committee have been busy making contact with Councillors from the Eurobodalla Shire and our local member Ann Sudmalis regarding the proposed re classification of the Reserve at 35-37 Illabunda Drive at Malua Bay. On February 2nd 2018 Councillors Pollock and Brown moved that Council commence a planning proposal process to rezone Lot 1110 DP 236653 located at (35-37 Illabunda Drive, Malua Bay) from E2 Environmental Conservation to R2 Low Density residential and reclassify the subject land from community to operational to enable the sale of the land
Net proceeds from the sale of the properties identified in the Recreation and Open Space Strategy be restricted for expenditure on recreation facilities which means that net proceeds from the possible Illabundah land sale can go to paying for extensions to the Narooma Skateboard facility to which Malua Bay children are welcome. Council is under no obligation to return the net proceeds to the Malua Bay community.
The Friends of Pretty Point (FoPP) committee have, in the strongest possible terms registered their objection to the proposed rezoning of the area and provided to Council very compelling reasons to keep dedicated public reserve open and free for community use.
With a written petition already in place The Friends of Pretty Point (FoPP) have also setup a petition online to enable non-resident Malua Bay ratepayers to also indicate their support in saving the Public Reserve
FoPP advise that Councillor Mayne and Councillor McGinlay have both accepted an invitation to join the group and community at the Reserve this Sunday February 10th at 1pm to hear the concerns of the community and see first hand why the area is so important to the residents.
Following on from the community disgust of Council held by the Tuross Head community shown when Council pressed ahead and sold an ocean side Public Reserve Councillors are being a little mindfal of the backlash of the land grab to sell of land to apparently pay for sporting facilities that could also see these net profits going into the operational cost of the new Batemans Bay pool and theatre Council has ceased mowing of the reserve indicating that to their mind the deal is already done. The proposed rezoning, reclassification and sale are based on the opinion of a consultant that there was no evidence of the reserve being "used" by the Malua Bay community. The Friends of Pretty Point will be making their protest known to all councillors up to and including the period where a public hearing date is announced and submissions heard.
Tensions are building in Malua Bay as residents discover Council's intent to see a Public Reserve
