AFTER months of extensive community consultation, Port Stephens Council has unanimously approved the revised footprint plan for future developments on Council-owned land close to the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands.
Compared to the previous iteration, the finalised footprint is outside of the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands and their buffer zone, with a 66 per cent increase in protected environmental land.
A portion of developable areas in what Council has described as the “isolated wetlands buffer zone” still remains.
The result has been celebrated by the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group (MWWCG), who spearheaded the efforts to convince Council to reduce the developable land.
“We’re very happy about the outcome,” said Kathy Brown, MWWCG secretary.
Council clarified that they will still commit to delivering the same number of affordable housing options close to the town centre by utilizing the maximum allowed building height of 15 metres.
“If we can’t build out, we need to build up,” Cr Mark Watson said.
Cr Giacomo Arnott acknowledged that the decision does not fully meet the demands of the MWWCG, but strongly commended their advocacy and the role they have taken in holding Council accountable.
“If it wasn’t for their work, what would have been endorsed a few months ago was quite different to what we’ve got now.”
Deputy Mayor Nathan Errington thanked Council staff for their extensive engagement efforts.
However he strongly urged the community to start focusing on the opportunities ahead for Salamander Bay, rather than being held back by what he described as minority groups making “the most noise.”
“We’ve listened to the community, we’ve heard their concerns, we’ve taken those concerns seriously, and we’ve acted on them,” Cr Errington said.
“Enough is enough, and at some point, we need to move forward. We cannot continue to allow a small group of people to hold back progress for the entire community.”
With the revised footprint now approved, Council will begin to consider Development Applications for the land.
Cr Roz Armstrong said that, to meet community expectations, every application will be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure that it satisfies environmental policies.
A portion of the revenue from the future sale of the land will be allocated to enhance the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands, fund ecological studies and update the Mambo Wetlands Plan of Management.
By Nico LOMBARDO
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