About 90 residents crowded into the public gallery at Monday night’s Sutherland Shire Council meeting, angry that an apparent error in the council’s draft Local Environmental Plan could have allowed an access road to be built on or next to the Woronora fire trail.
Woronora Valley Resident’s Association Inc. president Norm Dixon said the group was angry about the apparent anomaly in the LEP which seemed to leave the fire trial open to future development.
“I’m very concerned that we thought the road issue was finished due to the original zoning of 7B environmental protection (Bushland) in the 2006 LEP.
“Now, in LEP 2013, the new zoning we were told was similar to the old 7B zoning. It is not. We are very angry and concerned that the new zoning which is E2 allows for a road.”
Sutherland Shire Council moved quickly to allay the residents’ fears.
Shire Watch Independent councilor Peter Towell was to ledge a notice of motion calling on the council to write to Planning Minister Pru Goward as a matter of urgency to reinstate the prohibition in the Sutherland LEP against a public road on the Woronora fire trail.
Sutherland Shire mayor Kent Johns agreed with Cr Towell, incorporating his comments in a mayoral minute on constructing a public road on the Woronora fire trail and will seek to prevent any future council undertaking such a construction.
“I apologise. It was a genuine mistake and a technical error. “I reiterate that this council does not support the road except for emergency vehicles.”
- Mayor Kent Johns
“The fire trail falls into the E2 Environmental Conservation Zone under the new LEP,'' the minute said. "This is the more restrictive zone available.
“However, roads are permitted with consent, and this is inconsistent with council’s intentions and unacceptable to the residents of Woronora Valley and this council.”
The council will request that Planning Minister Goward insert a clause in the LEP 2015 that the existing fire trail between Bundanoon Road, Woronora Heights and The Crescent, Woronora may be used for the purpose of access by emergency vehicles.
If the Minister is unable to insert the clause, she be requested, as a matter of urgency, to introduce a separate zone which will prohibit a road, or defer the Woronora Fire Tail from the new LEP until such a time as a specific zone can be applied which prohibits a public road.
“It was an oversight that none of the councillors picked up,’ Cr Johns said.
“I apologise. It was a genuine mistake and a technical error.
“I reiterate that this council does not support the road except for emergency vehicles.”
See more in Thursday’s Leader and related story: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/2915907/on-a-determined-path-no-public-road-on-woronora-fire-trail-residents-fear-access-road-error/?cs=1507
Do you think the trail should remain closed?
