42 Bassett Street Fairy Meadow NSW 2519

This is a unique site, in a riparian zone and adjacent to Cabbage Tree Park, with huge girth old growth trees that provide habitat for gliders, possums and birds. Please:
1. Build above flood flats
2. Protect huge individual trees
3. Plant native local provenance species to mitigate development
4. An opportunity to demonstrate Council policy of extending tree cover in Wollongong
5. Economic sense for strata tenants as native species need reducing garden levy
6. Northen neighbour has successfully tried this model, and it works for all
7. Create a positive corridor block for biodiversity
8 Create the future with nature services of cooling and filtering air
Strata Committee Member
85 Cabbage Tree Lane

I am in support of Ruth Houghs post and being on the strata committee, also, representing all the other residents across the creek at The Grange We are all very concerned about the construction of 16 townhouses in the riparian zone across from ours. This is an area with huge trees and growth and important for local habitat of birds and animals.
Please keep in mind that following Ruth's recommendations, it can be a successful development as The Grange is.

I also support all Ruth Hough’s recommendations for this site. Sensitive development is required in riparian areas. Anything else is storing up problems for the future.

I further raise objection, noting there is no appreciation for the unique proximity of this proposal to the natural area of Cabbage Tree Park. Contrary to comment by Town Planner Milligan, 'the development will not have any significant inpact on the environment', this will have a major effect, especially with regard the planned 3 storey units on the flood plain and in the riparian zone. This is unacceptable, and has major environmental impact.
I submit the building height waiver is a dangerous precedent, and should not be permitted.
Ruth Hough

I agree with comments provided by Ruth, Julie and Emma. To remove a large number of the existing trees and replace with 16 residential units will have negative impacts not only for the environment but also for the wildlife that use this area as their habitat.

What is also of concern is the construction of a vehicular access road so close to the creek and neighbouring properties which will increase noise and pollution as a result of the additional residents and vehicles of 16 units.

It should be of high importance to the council to protect the existing native tree cover to maintain biodiversity within the area.

Further to my comments 6 days ago, and having obtained more information on the new development, my husband and I have serious objections to it. The 8 three story townhouses will be facing our residences, reducing our privacy. 16 Townhouses in total there is too much. Also, the road entry, which will be lighted up at night, plus the noise & pollution of the cars, is not acceptable & will affect our peaceful area. Also, the amount of large tall trees going is catastrophic for so many reasons and would take too many years to replace with the height and size of the existing trees being protective from the winds & storms and the sun which keeps our homes cooler.

I agree with comments provided by Ruth, Julie and Emma. To remove a large number of the existing trees and replace with 16 residential units will have negative impacts not only for the environment but also for the wildlife that use this area as their habitat.

What is also of concern is the construction of a vehicular access road so close to the creek and neighbouring properties which will increase noise and pollution as a result of the additional residents and vehicles of 16 units.

It should be of high importance to the council to protect the existing native tree cover to maintain biodiversity within the area.

I learned of the proposed development via my membership of the Yanderra Bushcare group coordinated by the learned and dedicated Ruth Hough. The group aims to restore and protect this rare remnant stand of mature turpentine trees and the ecosystem that surrounds them which includes a variety of native trees, palms, tree ferns, vines and grasses which in turn support an impressive array of native birds and animals. The development proposal will negatively and permanently impact on this site.

I am absolutely astounded that in view of what is now well understood about the importance of
• riparian environments
• mature trees
• green spaces
• wildlife corridors (this one connecting with the escarpment which one should note is classified as endangered)
• green canopy for cooling and cleaning the air of cities
that this proposal has even been considered and has been allowed to progress to this point.

It is impossible to see how this development would be in harmony with the stated aims of ‘Sustainable Wollongong’ and improving the amenity of the city.

It is a reality that as long as migration continues to be used as a crude method to grow the economy and to counter an aging population, we will need more housing. However this has to be restricted to areas that are already built on or cleared – we cannot afford to lose one more mature tree, one more creek, one more habitat. We cannot keep mourning the loss of species such as koalas while we continue to destroy their homes.

Let’s be clear, the proposed development is habitat destruction – it cannot be replaced by planting tree seedlings and lawns. The essential role of mature trees in any ecosystem is well established as is the need to protect what little remains of urban bushland.

It is somewhat bizarre that the time and energy put into a proposal to justify habitat destruction is not instead put into looking at how development can take place on the plethora of cleared and disturbed land already in existence. If the developers want to access the cool and clean atmosphere created by this remnant bush perhaps they should create their own and take responsibility for the environment instead of destroying it.

Needless to say all these issues are of course intensified by climate change which is well underway and will get worse – especially if the council endorses actions like cutting down mature trees, reducing green space and polluting streams and rivers. We have been told with increasing desperation by scientists that the environment is at a tipping point yet we keep ignoring this and in doing so place a bigger and much bleaker burden on the next generation – this is deeply shameful.

Many councils around Australia have been the first to resist developments that impact the environment, they have often been the first to acknowledge the dark side of our colonial history and create positive and healthy ways for the community to move forward together. We look to the Wollongong Council to show leadership and commitment to its citizens present and future by rejecting this proposal and any others that will only provide short term benefit to developers and property investors at the expense of all others.