Candidates for the upcoming Eurobodalla Shire Council elections have spoken up against plans to clear bush habitat next to Mummaga Lake, Dalmeny and promise to protect threatened Yellow-bellied Gliders who call the land home.
Dalmeny Matters, a community group who are trying to save the bush on their back door step, spoke to candidates from the Mayne Team, Eurobodalla Labor, Advance Eurobodalla and Eurobodalla Greens.
In their latest media release the Dalmeny Matters group say "Council rushed through the decision to sell 40Ha of public land in July, promising to help with a critical shortage of affordable housing in the area.
"Council have recently come out and said that affordable housing is not appropriate for Dalmeny after all as the village “does not provide a basic level of service adequate to meet the needs of those on low to medium incomes.”
"We believe Council deliberately misled the community in a bid to win support from people concerned about housing affordability.
"Developers purchasing the Council land should be aware that a new Council may have stronger commitments to protecting our valuable and unique South Coast forests, and more up- to- date and sustainable housing strategies than our current lot.
"Local Government Elections are set for December 4, after being postponed due to Covid.
We asked the Eurobodalla candidates: If elected, what commitment would you make to protecting this important habitat area of native bushland that is loved and used by people in the community?
In a recently published article about the forest, the Mayne Team commented:
“The questions that remain unanswered is- why was the sale of bushland to be cleared for housing rushed through, and why can’t new housing be on cleared land in or near existing towns?
Rather than selling the forest, Eurobodalla Shire Council could rezone the land to community use allowing Dalmeny residents continue to enjoy the bushland while the wildlife refuge and habitat remains.”
Eurobodalla Labor’s David Grace was critical of Council’s lack of vision in regards to sustainable development:
“The Labor team has supported the Dalmeny community's concerns about this development from the time it was brought before the council. We are strongly of the view that although developments are necessary in the shire, they need to be carried out to at least maintain, and preferably improve the environment in which we live. This includes ensuring that species other than humans also can enjoy this beautiful part of the world.”
Mat Hatcher from Advance Eurobodalla made reference to recent comments from the Minister for Planning to the Sydney Morning Herald:
“Given AE's environmental policies, we are committed to protecting the habitat in question (Lot 2 Tatiara st Dalmeny). Environmentally responsible and sustainable housing and other development is what AE is about. We also note NSW Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, is strongly opposed to the proposed Dalmeny development.”
Alison Worthington for the Eurobodalla Greens has commented previously on Council’s decision to rely on the private sector to supply affordable housing in Dalmeny and elsewhere as “opting out” stating that “The private sector plans for profits, not people.”
She told Dalmeny Matters that:
The Eurobodalla Greens express full support for Dalmeny Matters.
We will continue the support shown by Greens Councillor McGinlay who arranged at very short notice, the initial community meeting that was the catalyst for the formation of the Dalmeny Matters group.
We will ensure that the need to protect this habitat for yellow-bellied gliders and glossy black cockatoos, as evidenced by the observations of the local community, is taken seriously.
Dalmeny Matters said "We contacted ‘A Better Council’ candidates for comment but haven’t heard back from them to date.
"We contacted Eurobodalla Shire Council about how the development may affect Mummaga Lake and new evidence of Yellow-bellied Gliders and Glossy Black Cockatoos in the bush Council plan to develop.
"These are two of the species on the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel list of animal species listed as a high priority for urgent management and intervention.
Anthony Mayne recently pointed out that:
“Just prior to the vote, Clr Lindsay Brown made an argument in favour of the sale, comparing clearing a coastal forest for housing, to killing a sheep in order to enjoy eating a lamb roast. Apparently, it is just the process we don’t like to think about. But once the forest is gone, like Clr Browns dinner, it is gone forever.”
In regards to Council’s responsibility to protect threatened species, David Grace for Eurobodalla Labor stated that:
“We support further study of this area to ensure that any developments will not adversely affect yellow-bellied gliders or other threatened species, and we will take whatever action is needed to ensure the council meets its obligations to protect the yellow-bellied glider, as detailed in the Eurobodalla Settlement Strategy.”
The Mayne Team went on to say:
“The MAYNE team is absolutely committed to the protection of wildlife and their habitats, and this applies as much to Dalmeny as it applies to the rest of Eurobodalla (well, and the planet).
The large forest in Dalmeny is in good condition, a refuge to bird and animal life and Dalmeny residents say they value the forest and say they want to keep it there for all to enjoy.”
Alison Worthington echoed concerns Dalmeny Matters have about Council’s reliance on developers using Biodiversity Offsetting- a scheme which allows them to pay to clear habitat:
“Greens at all levels of government maintain that no biodiversity offset is capable of reducing the impact of the loss of threatened species - we simply must do everything we can to protect their existing habitat in its place.
Dalmeny Matters says "In addition to supporting threatened species, the forest in Lot 2 is home to many other plant and animal communities and has important recreational and therapeutic benefits for the surrounding human community too."
"The sale price is a poor reward for the loss of this treasured piece of our coastal landscape. This sale is just not worth it.”
Dalmeny Matters is on Facebook or contact us at dalmenymatters@gmail.com
