An artist's impression of the 'Sleeping Lizard' goanna that forms the hills of North Lismore Plateau site.(Facebook: North Lismore Plateau Protection Group) - ABC News, 10 February 2022
ABC Premium News, 16 December 2022:
....Panel chair Paul Mitchell told a determination meeting that virtually every aspect of the $39 million housing proposal needed further work but he had not ruled out future development on the site.....
The development of the site has been discussed for many years, with Aboriginal heritage & biodiversity listed as the greatest concerns.
Developers urged to submit again
Lismore City Council general manager John Walker said there was support for flood-free housing on the plateau.
"It's disappointing because we do need land, but any approval for DA (development application) must be fully compliant," Mr Walker said.
"You can't expect councils & planning authorities to approve matters without the necessary studies & reviews."
A report from the independent flood inquiry recommended urgently moving people out of high-risk areas on flood plains.
Mr Walker has urged the developers to submit a new application.
"We would certainly encourage them to do so, the plateau was a really important part of the future of Lismore. We'd encourage them to work with us to get that development happening," he said.
Consultants speaking on behalf of the developer told the panel they will now consider starting proceedings in the Land & Environment Court.
ABC News-ABC North Coast, 16 December 2022:
Panel chair Paul Mitchell told a determination meeting that virtually every aspect of the $39 million housing proposal needed further work but he had not ruled out future development on the site.
"I'm sure we'll see some residential development on the plateau," he said.
"The issues are not insurmountable, but this development application wasn't complete in the sense that it didn't answer key questions, such as whether landslip issues could be managed."
Lismore City Council had previously supported development on the plateau but in a submission to the panel recommended the project be refused.
Northern Star, 16 December 2022:
Finding significant and unresolved issues with the development application, the planning panel unanimously voted down the $39 million housing development on Dunoon Rd in North Lismore on Thursday…..
Lismore ratepayer Dot Moller said a new nuanced plan for the development of the North Lismore plateau may be required.
“There is a potential injustice to the population of North Lismore, our community badly affected by the devastating floods this year.
“Many families are still homeless and living in substandard conditions right at the foot of our green plateau.
“Folks have left as they‘ve been unable to find work or repair their homes. Social and affordable housing is desperately needed.
“It is time to think about what we really need – not what a big Sydney development company thinks will work for them.”
Lismore resident Helen Robinson pointed out to the panel some of the land on the proposed estate had been identified as suitable to relocate up to 500 homes off the flood plain in North Lismore by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.
“Those homes are suitable to move to the foothills of this estate where the people can maintain their communities,” she said.
“(But) council maintains that it's not in the community’s interest. I wonder which part of the community they’re considering.
“I don’t think they’re considering the people of the flood plain.”
Major concerns that sank the development included, environmental and wildlife impacts from land clearing, bushfire hazards, pollution of drinking water, increased stormwater run-off, noise from traffic and undue pressure on infrastructure.
But the elephant in the room – and the biggest obstacle facing the developers – is the outstanding Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment.
“A significant shortfall with the application is a lack of consolation and documentation in regards to Aboriginal cultural heritage,” the council’s assessment reads.
The plan to build on the Northern Plateau has been banging around for over a decade, with the development hotly debated.
The council’s assessment found the DA as presented was in contravention of Aboriginal heritage conservation.
Known culturally as the ‘Sleeping Lizard’ because of the shape of the land, the site is said to hold significant cultural value to Widjabul Wia-bal traditional owners of the Bundjalung Nation.
Back in 2011, members of the Widjabul Wia-bal community protested after the council voted to allow the development because of the cultural significance of the site.
More than 10 years later, the issue of heritage conservation on the site is yet to be addressed by the prospective developers, the Northern Regional Planning Panel heard.
Tony Hart and Clyde Treadwell, consultants who represented land owners trying to develop the land, acknowledged the issues. They asked for a six-month extension for “specialist consultants” to resolve the problems.
Frustrated panel chair Paul Mitchell said: “The problem with that is that the application shouldn't have been lodged in the first place.”
“Every aspect of this application that needs further work … virtually none of the fundamental issues have been finally resolved.”
Mr Hart and Treadwell told the panel landowners would proceed to take Lismore City Council to the Land and Environment Court for a determination if the extension and DA was refused.
“We do not want to go to court but we will have to if there is no other avenue,” Mr Hart said.
Mr Mitchell said that would be “unfortunate” because it would be “an expensive burden” on Lismore residents.
BACKGROUND
NORTH COAST VOICES, Sunday, 11 December 2022:
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| Sleeping Lizard IMAGE: displayed on change.org |
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