CRONULLA MP Mark Speakman said the latest development proposal for Kurnell peninsula was "far too dense" for a site affected by aircraft noise and with little public transport.
However he saw scope for "more modest" housing development in the least noise-affected areas, subject to environmental controls and the dedication of larger areas of public open space.
Mr Speakman told State Parliament on Thursday that "appropriate" development could be "a fantastic opportunity for a renaissance of the Kurnell peninsula and an upgrade to provide a better gateway to the birthplace of modern Australia".
"Locking the gate" to all development was not a serious option because the present zoning allowed for tourism, recreation or industrial parks, he said.
Mr Speakman was responding to a call by the National Parks Association of NSW southern Sydney branch for him to oppose the Holt company, Besmaw's, plan for up to 2000 homes, a large shopping complex and a business park.
Mr Speakman said he had discussed the group's concerns at a meeting, initiated before a Leader report.
He said Besmaw's move to bypass Sutherland Shire Council and go through a pre-Gateway review process failed because the Department of Planning and Environment believed it was premature to consider the proposal ahead of a strategic plan for the future of the peninsula.
The department had started preparing a southern Sydney sub-regional delivery plan, in which Besmaw had been invited to participate.
"Given the 250th anniversary in 2020 of Captain Cook's landing at Kurnell, the decline of heavy industry on the Kurnell peninsula [and] the existing severe degradation of the Besmaw site, appropriate development on the Besmaw site could be a fantastic opportunity for a renaissance of the Kurnell peninsula and an upgrade to provide a better gateway to the birthplace of modern Australia," he said.
Mr Speakman said numerous difficulties needed to be addressed, including aircraft noise, limited public transport and extra traffic, not only on Captain Cook Drive but at intersections to the west.
There should be no development without a comprehensive and independent environmental analysis, which looked at bird and marine life.
"Appropriate environmental protection is likely to require at least appropriate setbacks from the Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve and may well require one or more green corridors through the site," he said.
"Appropriate precaution against sea level rises is also likely to be necessary."
THUMBS DOWN
Sutherland Shire A ward councillors Carol Provan and Scott Williams are also opposed to the proposed development in its present form.
Like Mr Speakman, the Liberal councillors believe some housing is probably inevitable, but it needs to be on a far more modest scale.
A Department of Planning and Environment spokesman said it would have no further involvement until the council had received an amended proposal, made a determination and potentially referred it for consideration.
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