West Culburra Mixed Use Subdivision

Please see attached.

Please find attached a submission opposing the West Culburra Concept Proposal (App. No. SSD-3846) by the Culburra Residents Action Group.

Please see attached.

Please see attached.

Please see the attachments.
1x letter
3x marked up photos

I have lived on the south coast my whole life between Callala Bay , Orient point, and now a recent homeowner in Culburra Beach. I am extremely concerned about the size, style and scale of the amended West Culburra development and wish to formally register my objection to the proposal. I have also been running my business in Culburra for the last 12 years. I consider myself a true local to the area.

The reasons for my objection can be summarised as follows:

The proposed development is much too big for a sensitive coastal area and does not adequately mitigate the significant loss of habitat and threats to Crookhaven River catchment. In particular, the construction of more than 300 residential housing blocks south of the existing industrial estate on Culburra Road involves clear-felling of more than 43 hectares of unburnt native bushland and cannot possibly be justified in a time of climate change and unprecedented native species extinctions — especially when the developer already owns cleared land that could be developed without destroying a valuable native habitat corridor. 


The style of the proposed development is not in keeping with the sleepy coastal vibe of Culburra Beach. In particular, the small block sizes, medium to high-density living, and lack of best-practice environmental or passive solar design principles, makes the proposal completely unsuitable to the ethos and future of the existing village. I am especially disappointed that the developer would choose to clear-fell the entire area of bushland prior to construction, when there are much more progressive approaches to residential development that retain mature trees, hollow-bearing species and green corridors. I believe that where development is necessary, construction methods that retain key native habitat in and around new homes would undoubtably make living in these areas much healthier and enjoyable for future residents. I believe the developer’s approach to clearing land and situating houses on small blocks with no consideration for views, ventilation, orientation or existing shade trees makes it grossly outdated, unsuitable and completely unsustainable. 



The consultation process with both Aboriginal stakeholders and the rest of the Culburra Beach community has been marked by a lack of transparency, inclusion and respect since the original concept plan was exhibited. The Culburra Beach Progress Association has systematically excluded and publicly bullied any opponents of the development, and refused to even listen to resident concerns, let alone authentically consult with community members. Similarly, indigenous community members have been disrespected throughout the process by not having their cultural heritage treated with the importance it deserves. The developer’s own Aboriginal heritage assessment found middens and artefacts of “significant regional importance” in the areas surrounding proposed development in the amended plans, yet no real consultation or representation of the rich indigenous history of the area has been conducted. It is unconscionable to think we would continue to show such disrespect to the traditional owners of the land in this way in 2021, given all we have supposedly learnt about the decimation of Aboriginal culture by colonialisation over the past 200 years. 

I believe my sentiments about this proposal are echoed by many other residents and community members in Culburra Beach and Callala, and urge the Land & Environment Court to uphold its decision to reject the West Culburra proposal in its entirety.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]

My wife and myself object to the West Culburra development for a number of reasons:-
We live between two residences 50/50 and have owned our house in Culburra Beach for over 20 years .
Culburra Beach is a unique coastal town that hasn’t been over-developed like many, many other NSW coastal towns .
The majority of residents and rate payers want to keep it that way .
The infrastructure of Culburra Beach is not up to scratch now, so having a West Culburra development would make it worse . Our walk-way on to the beach on Palm Way is very dangerous for children and especially the elderly.
The roads are atrocious and the boat ramps need work done on them as well .
During holiday season the locals complain about too many people in Culburra but they do understand that tourists are needed, however they do get a bit of a break during off season .
This will come to an end if West Culburra development gets approved .
The water ways, beaches and wildlife get a break too during the off-season .
It also worries us about the wild life in that proposed development bush land and especially after the devastating bush fires of 2019/20 .
The development plan said how they will catch the water run off but you never, ever catch all of the water run off .
The Oyster industry is having a hard enough time now let alone with the extra pressure of the development .
There is one road in and one road out of Culburra .
For safety reasons the population of Culburra should be limited.
Culburra Beach should only have a sustainable population .
These are just some of the reasons why the West Culburra development SHOULDN’T go ahead .
Regards
[REDACTED]

I object to the proposed West Culburra Concept Proposal SSD 3846 at Culburra Beach because of the following concerns

I am a long-time homeowner in Culburra Beach and I am very concerned about the size of the proposed West Culburra mixed use development currently on exhibition.

The reasons for my objection can be summarised in the following points:

— The ‘estate’-style housing developments comprising medium-density housing and more than 300 new residences clearly prioritise profits for the proponent over all environmental and cultural considerations. In particular, the proposed small block sizes (some 300—400m2), the lack of passive solar design, low construction value, and no consideration of housing efficiency or lifestyle quality of future occupants makes it unsuitable and unsustainable for its location in a sensitive coastal area.

— The development would involve clear-felling of more than 42 hectares of native bushland, including vulnerable saltmarsh and sand forest ecology. This bushland was some of the only native vegetation that did not burn in the devastating South Coast bushfires last year and forms a valuable habitat corridor for native fauna.

— Insufficient consideration has been given to the cultural and heritage value of traditional landowners, including members from the nearby Jerrinja Aboriginal Community. The confirmed presence of middens and cultural items from the areas surrounding the proposed development make it completely unsuitable for a housing estate or any large-scale development.


— Insufficient consideration has been given to the damaging impacts from polluted urban runoff for the Crookhaven River, its wetlands and the oyster and fishing industries it supports. The application is required to demonstrate “a neutral or beneficial effect” (NorBE) for the quality of surface and ground water in the Crookhaven catchment, SEPP 14 Wetlands, the River and Curleys Bay, but no NorBE assessment of the proposed water pollution control measures is provided.



I therefore urge you to uphold the Land & Environment Court’s rejection of this proposed development.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]

see attached objection

Dear Patrick
I am writing to express my opposition to the West Culburra Concept Proposal SSD 3846.

I am a permanent renter of [REDACTED] Culburra and have been for the last 10 years.

I am a keen fisherman who practices sustainable fishing by targeting only those species which are classified as sustainable by fisheries.
The Shoalhaven/Crookhaven estuaries are fragile aquatic nurseries because they are ‘fast’ drainage systems and they are susceptible to major pollution from dairy run-off and are frequently declared ‘closed waters’ for local aquaculture farms (oysters).
The Crookhaven is an essential nursery for many forms of aquatic life.

I note in the proposal that the developers have stated they will ensure storm water will be controlled but don’t say how, only mentioning some form of straining plastic rubbish. There is no mention of how many millions of litres will drain into the system as a result of roads and guttering. If there is no development there will be no storm water.

Most importantly there is absolutely no mention of banning pesticides/insecticides and herbicides on the estate, all of which will drain into the system. Bayer/Monsanto are about to settle over 100,000 lawsuits in the USA for cancer and environmental damage as a result of ‘Roundup’ usage. It is estimated it will cost them $16Billion!

Roundup is sold and used extensively here in Australia. Usage by gardeners is immense and with new gardens and lawns being established in a new development its usage will be immense. As will that of fertilisers. What’s more, unlike farmers, suburban residents do not understand the life of glyphosates.

I want it noted that I have warned that the Crookhaven will become dangerous as a result of this development and the toxicity levels in the fish I eat from the system will result in an increase of cancer cases.
Do not allow it.

Philip Quast
[REDACTED]
CULBURRA
2540

Please refer to attachment outline objection.

Attached document objecting to the proposal outlining my concerns:
Environmental
Access
No long term economic benefit for community

I oppose this development for environmental and social reasons.

I heavily oppose the development.

Please see attached submission.

I object for reasons attached

I object for reasons attached

To The Director
Industry Assessments
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Objections to the West Culburra Concept Proposal Plan SSD 3846

Dated 26th February 2021

Please find attached documentation with a list of names in submissions of Objection to the proposal.
Submission information has been collated from the recent collaboration of individuals and with the collection of data from the Culburra Beach Community Public Forum conducted from Tuesday 23rd February 2021 to Friday 26th February 2021. Individuals have provided their personal data, objections and/or comments for this submission to be presented as a whole petition document as an inclusive in Objection to the West Culburra Concept Proposal Plan SSD 3846.
Please note each individual was given provision to request their name to be held (redacted) from the public record. If the Planning Commission would please redact from the public record the names of the individuals who have requested this as part of this submission petition document.

Sincerely
Administration of
Culburra Beach Community Public Forum (petition document)

o The Director
Industry Assessments
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

For the West Culburra Concept Proposal Plan SSD 3846

Dated 26th February 2021

Please find attached documentation with a list of names in submissions of Objection to the proposal.

Submission information has been collated from the recent collaboration of individuals and with the collection of data from the Culburra Beach Community Public Forum conducted from Tuesday 23rd February 2021 to Friday 26th February 2021. Individuals have provided their personal data, objections and/or comments for this submission to be presented as a whole petition document as an inclusive in Objection to the West Culburra Concept Proposal Plan SSD 3846.

Please note each individual was given provision to request their name to be held (redacted) from the public record. If the Planning Commission would please redact from the public record the names of the individuals who have requested this as part of this submission.

Sincerely
Administration of
Culburra Beach Community Public Forum (petition document)

Please See attachment.