Dalmeny Matters submits 1000-plus signature petition to Eurobodalla Shire Council

Community association Dalmeny Matters has outlined several concerns with the development of Dalmeny bushland and asked for early, meaningful consultation between the community, the owners of the three lots being developed, and Eurobodalla Shire Council.

Dalmeny Matters president Sally Christiansen submitted a petition with more than 1000 signatures to the council at the regular public access meeting on Tuesday (3 December).

The petition referenced the masterplan which the council had presented to the community and now sits with the owners to finalise.

Many of the concerns related to bushfire risk, protection of waterways, and preservation of habitat for threatened species. These arise from the fragmented nature of the development.

Ms Christiansen said there were three lots within the development site with three different owners. “This spreads the development across the site, rather than making a small perimeter to defend from the fire hazard,” she said.

Several creeks run through the area so there will be corridors of vegetation running through the site to protect the riparian zones. “There are sloped areas which will be too steep to develop so the development will likely be on the ridge lines, which brings a higher fire risk,” Ms Christiansen said.

She said the last time the community met with council staff, consultation with the RFS for the development had not occurred. “We would like to raise this issue again, now that the developers have been given the lead planning for the area,” she said.

The area is home to yellow-bellied gliders and glossy black cockatoos. Both are threatened species with large ranges that need large corridors between habitat areas, hollow nesting trees, and reliable water sources.

Assuming their habitat areas are preserved within the development, the fire risk must be managed. The community was told that there would likely be hazard-reduction burns every two to five years.

“This fire frequency is not compatible with the fire thresholds for these species. So, even if areas are put aside for them, it is unlikely they would survive in the area long term unless the footprint of the development could be somehow consolidated,” Ms Christiansen said.

The community also wants clear answers about how Mummaga Lake will be protected, and the capacity of local sewage pumping stations and the treatment facility to cope with potentially 400 extra houses.

As it is, some areas are impacted by localised flooding and residents have complained to the council about uncleared silt traps in drainage reserves. Sewage overflows affect properties and Mummaga Lake during storms.

Ms Christiansen said the number one concern that locals had raised with the council since the development’s planning began was stormwater runoff impacting Mummaga Lake and Dalmeny Beach.

“These residents deserve a response as to how this large development may affect their properties into the future.”

Ms Christiansen said the development could lead to more than 400 additional houses. “It’s the equivalent of twice the numbers that Dalmeny has during peak holiday periods, year round.”

She said council’s draft housing strategy report that was tabled at the November meeting indicated that the shire didn’t lack single-dwelling houses. What it lacked was diversity of housing and affordable housing.

“We don’t believe this development at Dalmeny will address that, being zoned R2,” Ms Christiansen said. “Many members of the community were very disappointed, and felt misled, when the council confirmed the area was unsuitable for affordable housing provision.”

She said there was much potential for infill development in Dalmeny, as well as the large site next to the Dalmeny IGA which would be developed as townhouses.

The community has requested they be consulted about access roads to the development area. Ms Christiansen said they had useful local knowledge about traffic volumes, dangerous areas, requirements for footpaths and bike path connectivity, and the routes that children took to school bus stops. Additionally, there were issues with traffic and parking in the Dalmeny business area.

Ms Christiansen said the community deserved clear information and a chance to have a say in the future planning of the area.

“We would like to raise specific concerns with the owners, now that they have been given the lead in the planning process. We would like to hear their vision for the area, to understand how risks will be mitigated, and whether there are plans to preserve areas for wildlife and recreation.

“If the three owners would be open to discussion about how to consolidate the footprint of the development, many of the serious challenges of this development could be improved.”