St Georges Basin/Sussex Inlet Interim Protection Bill

About this Item
Speakers - Hatton Mr John
Business - Bill, First Reading, Second Reading

ST GEORGES BASIN/SUSSEX INLET INTERIM PROTECTION BILL

Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr HATTON (South Coast) [9.02]: I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The object of the bill is to provide interim protection for the environment, wildlife, scenery and natural systems of St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet, including Tullawarrah Lagoon, Wandandian Creek estuary, Jewfish Bay and Cow Creek, and areas in the vicinity of Badgee Lagoon, by deferring development of the land within their water catchments until a regional environmental plan has been prepared that will subject any such development to appropriate environmental planning controls. St Georges Basin, in central Shoalhaven, is a large, shallow saltwater lake with a narrow outlet to the sea via Sussex Inlet. My knowledge of and association with this area goes back 40 years. In the 1950s and 1960s the area was rich in marine life, prawns, fish, flathead, whiting, bream, blackfish, jewfish, the occasional schnapper, and other species. In good seasons catches are still good, although, in my view, less than they used to be. It is difficult to measure the overall volume of fish taken out of the lake, although marketing returns by professional fishermen and creel counts assist. Obviously there are many more tourists now than in the 1960s.

The catchment and foreshores of the basin are vital to retention and improvement of water quality, and therefore marine life. Fish have amazing fecundity, being able to reproduce in large numbers when conditions are ideal. The eastern shore of the lake is part of the Federal territory which is now part of a Federal national park. The northern shore has been extensively subdivided and built upon, although there are still many more blocks available. Erowal Bay, Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin, Basin View and a number of other smaller settlements are dotted along the northern lake foreshore. A compounding growth rate in excess of a staggering 10 per cent in the St Georges Basin and Sanctuary Point area with up to 10,000 building blocks available means that the lake, which has suffered from run-off siltation and urban pollution, will be put under continuing pressure, as will its environment.

As long ago as 1970, when I was Shire President of the then Shoalhaven Shire Council, I recognised the lake's vulnerability. Witnessing what was happening to a similar lake further north - Lake Illawarra - I tried to have planning strategies put into place to protect the sensitive Tullawarrah Lagoon wetlands and peninsula at the western end, and the southern shores of the basin in general. Various development
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proposals have surfaced over the years. Proposals by Lucas and Tait at northern Sussex Inlet and by Realty Realizations Proprietary Limited will impact on the environment. In the last 2½ years Realty Realizations has brought forward development proposals stretching behind up to 11 kilometres of foreshore.

When news of the development reached the St Georges Basin community there was considerable backlash. Over 400 people spontaneously attended a public meeting and the vast majority were in vigorous opposition to the development. I recognise that there has been significant environmental improvements to the original plan. Almost the entire area of remaining foreshore and immediate hinterland to the south and west of the basin is in private ownership. This area will be affected by this bill. The draft environment study of the major development, known as Millanden Estates, lists nine areas of wetlands, five of which are of state environmental planning policy status. Briefly, flora consists of spotted gum, blackbutt, scribbly gum and red bloodwood woodlands and open forest, and a wide variety of wetlands flora. Fauna abounds.

According to the report yellow-bellied gliders have been sighted in the Picnic Point area and the other side of Swan Bay. Kangaroos, black cockatoos, wallabies, antechinus, large fruit bats and other species have been sighted. Studies indicate that it is likely that powerful owl and tiger quoll will be present. The area is also rich in archaeological sites - shell middens with some artefacts, 14 sites in the Jewfish Bay area and 300 in the Sussex Inlet-Jervis Bay area as a whole. Subdivision could be massive, even under the modified plan, with 300 to 350 urban blocks of 650 square metres in size, and 270 rural residential one-hectare blocks planned for the catchment of Swan Creek, Cow Creek, Booroowungan Creek and Bea-al Creek.

This is not a radical bill. It does not seek to prevent development. It seeks to have an environment plan that will respect the natural values and the importance of the area. This bill will cease to have effect when a regional environment plan, possibly as stage two of the plan nearing completion covering Jervis Bay, is proclaimed. Power in this bill still rests with the Minister to make regulations to cater for unforeseen events. The bill specifically excludes the maintenance of the existing golf course and actions which are necessary for fire protection. Clause 7 requires the Director of Planning to prepare and submit a draft regional environment plan imposing appropriate controls on development of the land. Destruction of native flora and fauna, and development other than that necessary to maintain the existing golf course and provide fire protection, are prevented and are an offence under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Clause 8 provides for the repeal of the prohibition imposed by section 5 when a regional environment plan has been certified and takes effect. Nothing in this Act restricts or prohibits the acquisition of land for the purposes of reserves or for dedication under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The Act binds the Crown and makes consequential amendments to the Land and Environment Court Act. Schedule 1 describes the land to which the proposed Act applies. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Hartcher.

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