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Mr W. D. SMITH: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning. How is the Government protecting the coastline?
Dr REFSHAUGE: We need to protect large areas of the coast from development. We need to ensure that those who are effecting the sea changes do not do that at the expense of our bountiful natural assets. Today I am announcing a further tangible example of the Government's commitment to protecting the coast. We are adding six new rainforests, including additions to two existing rainforests under our policy to protect littoral rainforests under State environmental planning policy 26. This policy, which was introduced by the then Labor Government in 1988, has only ever been added to by Labor governments. This amendment will see almost 19 hectares added and will bring the total area that we are protecting under the policy to 664 hectares. Littoral rainforests, which are coastal rainforests, are a unique and vulnerable natural asset of the coastal zone. They are well adapted to living in the harsh conditions of the coastal zone, with its salt-laden and drying winds.
It is estimated that more than three-quarters of the littoral rainforest that is growing in New South Wales has been destroyed or severely downgraded. Because it is confined to the coast it has suffered greatly in the past from clearing, development and sandmining. That is why a Labor government brought in a policy to protect it in 1988. This is our second addition to the policy. We are the only Government ever to have added areas to the policy. In 1997 we added more than 28 hectares to the policy. This time we are adding almost 19 hectares. Much of this land is particularly special because it contains plants that are vulnerable, rare or endangered. The additions are: 12.8 hectares at Blue Angle Creek, Gerroa, near Kiama; 1.1 hectares at Barlings Beach, Tomakin, Eurobodalla; 1.2 hectares at Tara Downs; half a hectare at Coast Road, Ballina; 1.8 hectares at Hendersons Lane, Ballina; and 0.6 hectares at Amber Drive, Ballina.
I am grateful to councils, landowners, community groups and individuals who have worked in partnership with the Government in nominating those areas for protection. Identifying and protecting these biodiversity-rich rainforests is an essential part of the Government's commitment to the coast and coastal communities. While our policy does not absolutely prohibit development in the rainforest areas, it stipulates that rigorous environmental analysis and periods of public comment must be part of the assessment of any potential development. I am sure that honourable members will be pleased to see these littoral rainforests being preserved.
Questions without notice concluded.