SUTHERLAND Shire Council has unanimously endorsed a damning staff report condemning almost all aspects of Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council's plans for west Menai.
The report, which concludes by saying the council "strongly opposes" the land council's vision, forms the basis of the council's submission to NSW Planning and Infrastructure.
The 80-page submission starts by saying the plan for what the land council calls Heathcote Ridge should be rejected because it is "fundamentally flawed", "unjustifiably large", "costly", "risky" and "damaging to the environment".
That tone is reflected in almost every page of the report, which argues that the land council plan is incomplete and inaccurate.
The report listed 18 reasons why the plan should be rejected.
Perhaps the most serious claim is that the land council did not adequately plan or fund a feasible bushfire mitigation scheme to protect residents and property.
The council said the land council was so fixed on maximising the profitable residential component of the development it exposed entire neighbourhoods to "excessive amounts of bushfire interface".
It also noted that the land council did not properly cost the road links needed to provide evacuation routes.
Gandangara land council chief executive Jack Johnson rejected the council's position. He said the proposal ensured "any residential area was afforded the highest level of bushfire protection, meeting or exceeding existing bushfire standards".
The council report also took aim at the land council's estimate that it would provide 2700 homes, noting that far more homes would be permissible.
It said another inaccuracy was the land council's claim that the 70-hectare commercial zone proposed as part of the development would take the form of a high-tech health and education hub. The council said it was far more likely to result in a swathe of bulky-goods warehouses along Heathcote Road, an outcome that would exacerbate existing traffic problems.
The report said the plan had a high chance of outright failure, which could result in the land council either selling the entire 500-hectare conservation reserve slated as part of the development. The council could also be forced to step in and maintain the required bushfire-asset protection zones.
"In essence, the submission isn't forthcoming about the number of financial risks inherent in this unprecedented proposal or its ability to manage that risk," the report states.
Several councillors at last Monday's night's council meeting commended staff for preparing the report.
Councillor Peter Towell said the report opened his eyes to the "alarming sloppiness" of the plan. He said NSW Planning and Infrastructure should not have accepted the proposal.
"I know the local community is outraged from my many discussions with residents at shopping centre stalls and public meetings. And rightly so," Cr Towell said.
Councillor Steve Simpson said the proposal was "one of the worst" the council had seen in terms of housing and amenity outcomes.
GANDANGARA'S DEFENCE
Gandangara land council chief executive Jack Johnson said his organisation was ‘‘disappointed’’ the council had taken such ‘‘a negative view’’ of the project.
‘‘The basis for council submission seems to be that Gandangara has failed to address fundamental planning considerations and not taken into account the constraints of the subject land,’’ Mr Johnson said.
‘‘In fact, the Heathcote Ridge project has been entirely informed by the 4000 pages of detailed studies which outline the land use constraints.’’
Mr Johnson did not directly respond to all of the council’s claims, but strongly defended the land council’s overall vision.
‘‘Gandangara believes Heathcote Ridge is a comprehensive and balanced proposal, which will create a vibrant new community, alleviate Sydney’s housing shortage and provide local jobs for the people of Sutherland, while still protecting the valuable Aboriginal heritage and threatened species on the site,’’ he said.
What do you think of the council’s report on Gandangara land council’s plans for west Menai?
