Members of the community have expressed concerns that land clearing undertaken at the site last week is outside the approvals of the DA, with calls for the land to be reacquired by Port Stephens Council to preserve the environment.

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Clearing has reportedly commenced in areas believed to be home to endangered koalas, owls and rare orchids.

“EcoNetwork Port Stephens understands that the clearing of vegetation behind the old Colonial Ridge Resort at Salamander Bay is a permitted activity due to a Development Consent approved in 2018 to establish a bushfire management zone (Asset Protection Zone, APZ) on No 8 Fleet St (Lot 2 DP 791551) for the re-development of the adjacent site (No 4 Fleet St – the old Resort),” an EcoNetwork Port Stephens spokesperson stated.

“We are not aware of any further development having been approved for the land at No 8, and previous DAs for the currently un-re-developed part of the old Resort (DP 285191) were withdrawn, with only the parts now occupied by new single dwellings having been subject to new DAs (now Ridgeview Drive and Inlet Close).

“It is not clear to us why work needs to be carried out in the APZ given that no DA has yet been approved for most of the site that requires the APZ.”

The site has been the subject of community controversy in the past.

Council previously sold some of the adjacent land to the property for the purposes of an Asset Protection Zone – a move which prompted considerable opposition at the time.

“We understand that Port Stephens Council sold this previously public land at No 8 to the owners of the old resort site, in controversial circumstances,” the EcoNetwork spokesperson said.

“The sale process failed to recognise the ecological value of the remnant bushland on No 8, adjacent to the Stoney Ridge Reserve, which is an important habitat for native fauna, including koalas.

“While Council apparently has strict ecological guidelines in place to protect certain trees, there is an obvious loss of ground and mid-story species already, and we are yet to understand the proposed extent of tree loss here.

“The irony is the temporary fencing bordering the site has many signs stating ‘Private Property…This is a Vegetation Rehabilitation Area’.

“However no rehabilitation would be required if the area was not being cleared.

“Generally APZ zones have to be provided within the private land subject to development – this was conveniently enabled by the Council selling the public land to the owners of the Resort.”

EcoNetwork believes that Council should not facilitate APZs on public land.

“Council’s default position should be to protect open space and in particular that which is bushland, without an open public process to re-classify and/or rezone it, when the merits of such a proposal could be debated.

“The full history of this site and related transactions should be made public.

“Given the community outcry over the loss of major parts of this valuable bushland, we call on Council to re-acquire the land and return it to the Stoney Ridge Reserve.

“The precedent exists with the buy-back of the former Department of Education land adjacent to the Mambo Reserve”.

Steven Peart, Director of Community Futures at Port Stephens Council told News Of The Area, “The approval for the work occurring at 4 and 8 Fleet Street, Salamander Bay were provided as part of a Development Application for seniors housing (fifteen dwellings), caretakers residence, associated works (including demolition, vegetation clearing, access, landscaping) along with the termination of an existing neighbourhood scheme at 2 Fleet Street, Salamander Bay.

“Consent was also provided for the removal of vegetation within the privately owned lot at 8 Fleet Street, Salamander Bay to comply with the Rural Fire Services requirement to establish an Asset Protection Zone (APZ).

“Prior to the removal of vegetation, a condition of consent was imposed for a Bushfire Vegetation Management Plan (BVMP), and a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).

“These plans have been provided and assessed by Council staff and provide clarification on a number of environmental factors that are to be considered and implemented throughout the development.

“The BVMP and CEMP also include specific measures which are to be imposed during the clearing works to minimise the impact on fauna and retained trees.

“These include the timing of the works to be undertaken, the type of machinery to be used, the clearing methods required, supervision of an ecologist and signage.

“Following community concerns, Council staff attended the site to review the works being undertaken.

“Council staff requested that the works cease until all environmental controls were reviewed.

“Council is expecting works to recommence in mid-January.

“We will continue to monitor the works to ensure the conditions of consent are met.

“As the matter is under investigation, the Council is unable to provide any further details at this stage,” he said.

By Marian SAMPSON