Proposed development at Culburra Beach has divided the community.
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Two public meetings were held by the Independent Planning Commission regarding proposals for the West Culburra Development and Long Bow Point Golf Course on Tuesday, following the Department of Planning and Environment’s recommendations to refuse both proposals.
The West Culburra development proposal, located on the southern bank of the Crookhaven River, covers nearly 100 hectares of land, and would include 650 homes, 3.5 hectares of industrial development, tourist accommodation, cafes, restaurants, cycleways, picnic areas and a sports field.
In its recommendation to the IPC, the department concluded the proposal should be refused due to the potential for significant adverse impacts on water quality, Aboriginal heritage, and would require clearing of over 90 hectares of native vegetation.
Frances Bray of the Lake Wollumboola Protection Association spoke in favour of the department’s refusal recommendation, and said the proposal could have negative impacts on the Crookhaven River and the lake.
“Clearing on extensive coastal forest and wetlands including endangered ecological communities for urban development would result in significant loss of threatened species’ habitat and environmental degradation,” she said.
“We’re not opposed to ecologically sustainable development in Culburra Beach. We consider that the Halloran Planning Proposal offers a better approach to achieve ecologically sustainable development and to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.”
Resident Georg Straesser also spoke out against the proposal, labelling it as “monstrous”.
“Look at the size of [the development] compared to Culburra. That’s monstrous. It’s monstrous,” he said.
“We all want to preserve what is here. We don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot by creating a monster out there.”
However, a number of residents were in favour of the development, stating it could boost the economy in the village.
Orient Point resident John Castellan said the West Culburra development would see young families flock to the area, while also creating more jobs in the community.
“The majority of residents in this village want to see it prosper and not die through lack of development,” he said.
“We need growth in this village. Businesses are struggling. A refusal will be the death knell for our village.”
Culburra Beach & Districts Chamber Of Commerce president Brian Muller said if the proposal were to be refused, businesses would continue to suffer and more people would leave the village.
“Culburra Beach needs good, sustainable residential development if it is to survive,” he said.
“The development will provide an increase in permanent population.
“I can tell you that in my role as president of the Culburra Beach and District’s Chamber of Commerce, business owners talk to me and they are hurting.”
Gilmore MP and Culburra Beach resident Ann Sudmalis also made a submission in favour of the West Culburra development at the meeting.
Ms Sudmalis said “the majority” of the community were in favour of the development.
“Small area developments of this scale have the ability to provide a vast range of housing types and styles in order to resolve the problems that exist right now,” she said.
“The majority of this community are in favour of this development, and it’s high time that the usually silent majority are given their voice.”
The Long Bow Point Golf Course proposal, expected to cost $9 million, also caused mixed reaction among the community.
Ms Bray again spoke out in favour of the Department of Environment and Planning’s recommendation to refuse the proposal.
She worried the golf course would impact on the migratory bird species that visited the lake each year, as well as the wetlands and water quality. Narelle Wright and Robert Dunn on behalf of Birdlife Australia CEO Paul Sullivan, also made submissions in favour of refusal.
Other community members, including Marcus Kearns and Wade Meadth made submissions in support of the course, stating it could bring tourism and economic advantage to the town.
The Independent Planning Commission will now make a determination on whether to approve or refuse both the West Culburra and Long Bow Point Golf Course proposals.
No timeframe has been given as to how long this will take.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
