KOALA EXTNICTION CRISIS STATE OF PLAY 2025: Dean Caton's felling koala feed trees in Tuckers Nob State Forest from 9:00 am Monday 9th December 2024 and 6:00 pm Monday 30th June 2025

 

In 2020, the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Koalas found that koalas will become extinct in the wild before 2050 if urgent action isn't taken to protect their habitat. 2050 is a mere 25 years away......

Forestry Corporation, 9 December 2024

Partial closure of Tuckers Nob State Forest

NO ENTRY

FORESTRY REGULATION 2022 - SECTION 6 & 7 CLOSURE OF PART TUCKERS NOB STATE FOREST

  

FORESTRY CORPORATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES HAS RESERVED THE AREA DESCRIBED BELOW AS 'THE CLOSED AREA' FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF ITS CONTRACTORS, SUPPORT AND SUPERVISING STAFF CARRYING OUT HARVESTING OPERATIONS DURING THE PERIOD DESCRIBED BELOW AS 'THE CLOSURE PERIOD'.

THE ENTRY OF ALL PERSONS INTO THE CLOSED AREA DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, OTHER THAN PERSONS AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE FORESTRY CORPORATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, IS HEREBY PROHIBITED.

PERSONS ENTERING INTO OR REMAINING IN THE CLOSED AREA DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD WITHOUT FORESTRY CORPORATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES' PERMISSION ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION, MAXIMUM PENALTY $2,200 PER OFFENCE.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CLOSED AREAS

That part of Tuckers Nob State Forest No. 612 enclosed by the boundary commencing at the State Forest boundary adjacent to the intersection of Gleniffer Road and Roses Road (marked point 'A' on the map); then moving in a clockwise direction around the closure area, in a generally south-easterly direction following the State Forest boundary running parallel to the Gleniffer Road to the intersection with 27/1 Trail (marked point 'B' on the map) NB. Gleniffer Road remains open; then in a generally westerly direction following 27/1 Trail to the intersection with an un-named drainage line (marked point 'C' on the map), then in a generally south-westerly direction following the un-named drainage line to the State Forest boundary (marked point 'D' on the map), then in a generally north-westerly direction following the State Forest boundary adjacent to the intersection of Gleniffer Road and Roses Road (marked point 'A' on the map).

DESCRIPTION OF THE CLOSURE PERIOD

Between 9:00 am Monday 9th December 2024 and 6:00 pm Monday 30th June 2025

BY ORDER OF FORESTRY CORPORATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, by its delegate:

Dean Caton

REGIONAL MANAGER - NORTHERN

FCNSW COFFS HARBOR [sic]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmnP7MQ-Uzc

 KoalaMashUp

Tim Cadman

Jan 17, 2025 #Koala #NSWForestry #NSWGovernment

A composite of two nights of drone flying over compartments 10, 12 and 18 in Tuckers Nob State Forest - all areas zoned 'plantation' by #NSWForestry, and slated for clearing. 

The results shows that this is one of the densest populations of wild #Koala in New South Wales. 

Yet these forests are excluded from the #NSWGovernment's so-called 'Great Koala National Park - which is why we need a #GreaterKoalaPark - free from logging, because #PlantationsAreHabitatToo!

 

The NSW Minns Government gave big property developers & land speculators an incredible Christmas present on 20 December 2024 which they get to unwrap today, 8 January 2025

 

Both Houses of the NSW Parliament effectively went into end of year recess on 22 November 2024, with only five days of supplementary budget estimates hearings remaining between 2 to 6 December 2025 before the chamber doors closed until 11 February 2025 when both Houses begin the 2025 parliamentary calendar year.

The NSW Minns Labor Government waited until Friday 20 December 2024 to announce on its Inside State Government website that it had formally established the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

The three-person HDA decision makers were revealed to be senior public servants the Secretary of the Premier’s Department Simon Draper, the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Kiersten Fishburn and the Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW, Tom Gellibrand. Although the HDA is nominally responsible to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, these decision makers have been handed what appears to be almost unfettered power to accede to property developers' board and shareholder desire for corporate & personal enrichment commencing from today, Thursday 8 January 2025, when developers can begin to submit Expression of Interest to the HDA for major housing developments above approximately $60 million in Greater Sydney and $30 million in regional NSW.

The HDA intends to meet monthly to consider proposals against the EOI criteria and make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces on whether to declare these proposals as State Significant Development.

The HDA has been created to give property developers a way to bypass local government councils & regional planning panels, as is clearly stated in the state government's media release:

Proponents can still choose to follow the existing regionally significant development pathway assessed by councils and determined by planning panels, but the establishment of the HDA and the new SSD pathway will give them another option for major residential developments.

On 20 December the Dept. of Planning also published the Housing Delivery Authority SSD criteria, which stated in part that the HDA will apply flexibility in their evaluation of proposals against the criteria with preference being given to projects which meet the criteria and could commence construction quickly.

What could possibly go wrong?

Local Government NSW (LGNSW), media release, 20 December 2024:

New year, new rules: government sides with developers over local voices

Today's confirmation of eligibility criteria for the State Government’s new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has generously presented developers with the freedom to exceed development standards by up to 20 per cent, giving greater opportunities for profit-driven land banking, and no mandated requirement to meaningfully provide affordable housing. [my yellow highlighting]

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) – the peak body for NSW councils – says the HDA will further weaken the role of community-led strategic planning while doing nothing to address real barriers to housing delivery such as land banking, skills and labour shortages and soaring costs of materials and labour.

LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM said today's announcement would be viewed by developers as an early Christmas present.

“Far from the season of giving, these planning changes will leave local communities empty-handed while big developers celebrate,” Cr Turley said.

“Until now, details of the HDA have been limited, but the NSW Government has confirmed today that it's basically handing the keys to planning rules over to developers, while local communities will be sidelined in decisions about what happens in their towns and suburbs.

“The new three-person HDA will be receiving EOIs from large developers and recommending these bypass councils and instead progress through state assessment and Ministerial determination."

Cr Turley said that while councils across the state supported efforts to accelerate housing delivery, they opposed the move to establish this new planning body and state-assessed planning pathway.

“This is not only because of the concern about bypassing local councils, but fundamentally, but also because it opens the planning system to more ad hoc proposals, disregarding local strategic plans and risks adding more uncertainty to the planning system,” Cr Turley said.

“The NSW Government is continually shifting the planning goalposts for communities and developers. Developers now know that if they continue to delay construction on already approved sites, they only have to wait for the next rule change when they’ll be able to generate even greater profits.

“Councils acknowledge the need for new and more diverse housing in well-located areas across NSW, but maintaining strategic, evidence-based planning and doing this in a collaborative way, is critical.

“Unfortunately for the NSW community, there is no requirement that developers who receive approval under this pathway must actually deliver the promised dwellings – just that they must demonstrate a capability to do so.

“There is nothing in the planning system to compel them to build. This toothless aspiration opens the planning system to more land banking by developers in search of even greater profits.

“And despite this new planning pathway allowing proposals to exceed development standards by up to 20 per cent there is no clear mandate for a meaningful contribution to affordable housing, nor that any affordable housing will remain in perpetuity.

“Rather than the vague requirement for a ‘positive commitment to affordable housing’, the requirements should clearly mandate what is required at the outset, to allow developers to factor this into their EOI for this pathway."

Cr Turley called for Minister Scully to consider targeted collaboration, rather than blanket policy that bypasses councils.

“When first announced last month, councils resolved to condemn this new spot-rezoning and State approval pathway, which will deliver windfall gains for developers while removing safeguards that protect communities from inappropriate overdevelopment,” Cr Turley said.

“Rather than layering another blanket, statewide policy on the planning system, efforts to improve approval pathways for housing would be more effective if they focused attention and support where it is needed to overcome specific issues and to reach jointly agreed planning outcomes with councils for their communities.

“Any accelerated process must not compromise infrastructure provision, build quality, environmental considerations, public safety, liveability and other planning outcomes.”

NOTE

LGNSW, media release, 23 December 2924, excerpt:

Cr Turley is an elected member of Broken Hill City Council which, at its November meeting, resolved to resign from LGNSW – the peak body for local government across the state.

Despite being democratically elected by members as President in December 2021 and again in November 2023, Cr Turley is no longer eligible to hold office as her council no longer forms part of the membership of the peak body.

In accordance with the Rules for LGNSW, the remaining 11 months of her term will now be served by the current Vice-President (Rural/Regional) , who is Mayor Phyllis Miller from Forbes Shire Council. Mayor Miller will serve until the next scheduled general election due to take place at the LGNSW Annual Conference in November 2025.

NSW Minns Labor Government to provide built for purpose rental accommodation in Lismore City - 50 rental apartments of which 10 will be affordable housing

 

The NSW Minns Labor Government is providing built for purpose rental accommodation in Lismore City - 50 rental apartments of which 10 will be affordable housing - with construction due to start in 2025.

The Northern Star, 23 July 2024:

Landcomreveal designs for $30m state government-backed build-to-rent housingproject in East Lismore

A concept image. Picture: Supplied

Design plans for a pilot $30 million, 50 apartment state government backed build-to-rent project in the Northern Rivers have been revealed.

Plans have been aired for the dozens of apartments in East Lismore by state owned corporation Landcom, spruiked as well-designed, climate-resilient and sustainable.

The plans have been released for community and stakeholder feedback.

Located at the corner of Crawford Rd and 138-146 Military Rd, the development is aimed at delivering affordable rental housing in a region impacted by rising costs and low availability.

The development is set to include a mix of apartment sizes to suit the lifestyles and budgets of different households.

Future residents will be close to shops, schools, open spaces like parks, Southern Cross University and other community infrastructure.

State Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said battlers were already doing it tough before the 2022 floods and there was increasingly “essential need” for more housing.

Ms Saffin strongly advocated for the project and said it would be a “welcome investment” for Lismore.

“It’s good to see Landcom seeking to help local renters to put a roof over their head as soon as practical, while also planning to deliver housing that is in tune with the local environment,” she said.

A pair of apartment buildings will follow the site’s slope to the south and are planned to be of a similar scale to surrounding homes. The site for the homes is not flood prone.

The three-storey northern building screens the lower-level southern building, which includes three levels above a ground floor car park.

The 50 apartments would be a mix of studios up to three-bedroom apartments. 20 per cent of the units are designated as rentals for people on low to moderate incomes.

Additionally, the development is set to have 58 secure ground floor parking spaces with access from Military Rd.

Landcom states facades, roof treatments and materials will reflect local architectural character and the project will blend in with its surrounds.

Work is underway to finalise the design and planning before lodgement of a development application with Lismore City Council in coming months. Landcom states it wants to maximise light and ventilation in the design.

Construction is projected to begin in 2025 with residents expected to move in 2026 – subject to approvals.....

Lismore residents can have their say about the draft design by completing an online survey on Landcom’s website by August 7.

The developer is also due to hold a community information and feedback session at East Lismore Bowling Club on August 1.

Residents can drop into the club to learn more, ask the project team questions and share their thoughts between 5pm-8pm.....

Landcom statement on intended Management of Housing Complex

The build-to-rent properties and tenancies at our East Lismore project will be managed by a government agency or community housing provider. Details will be made available closer to project completion.

Landcom statement on Affordable Housing

What is affordable housing?

Safe, secure and affordable housing is essential to the wellbeing of individuals, the vibrancy of our communities and the productivity of the NSW economy.

At our East Lismore project, 20% of homes will be affordable rental housing.

Affordable rental housing is housing that meets the needs of people on low to moderate incomes, such as essential workers. Rent is priced so tenants can afford other basic living costs such as food, clothing, transport, medical care and education. It is managed in accordance with the rent setting provisions of the NSW Housing Ministerial Guidelines.

Affordable rental housing is usually managed by community housing providers, which are not-for-profit, mission driven organisations who own, develop and maintain rental housing for people on very low, low and moderate incomes who require affordable homes.

Affordable housing is not the same as social housing, which is available to people on very low to low household incomes. This includes those who are struggling to afford rent and are often on the brink of homelessness. Landcom does not provide social housing.

If you are a Lismore City local government area resident you can give your opinion on this project via an online portal at:

https://landcom.com.au/projects/eastlismore

When political & business interests compete with environmental & societal needs, there is usually only one winner and in this case the Nimble Estates P/L-NSW Minns Government urban release proposal is shaping up to be just that

IMAGE:  REA Group 

Lismore City Council is in the process of progressing an urban release proposal on land at 1055 and 1055A Bruxner Highway, already given the preliminary nod by a Delegate of the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully on 13 September 2023.

The site is being put forward for mixed-use development, expected to deliver est. 320 dwellings and 150 commercial/industrial lots.

It is worth noting that in November 2022 a planning proposal was received by Lismore City Council from Nimble Estate Pty Ltd (Qld) landowners at 1055 and 1055 Bruxner Highway, Goonellabah (lots then identified as State Significant Farmland) and, it sought to amend the land zones, minimum lot size and height of building controls within the Lismore Local Environment Plan 2012 to enable future residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational development across the 75 hectares of this site.

Note: Nimble Estates Pty Ltd (registered 24 December 2021) is jointly owned by shareholders BG GRANT PTY LTD and EJUPI ENTERPRISES PTY LTD - Nimble Estate directors being BRIAN GERARD GRANT and NAGIP EJUPI. [ASIC, April 2024]

There is no firm undertaking for the provision of affordable lots or affordable house land packages on the residential section of this site.

Of the site as is, a Lismore City Council document has stated:

The site contains two small patches of Lowland Rainforest EEC under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act, 2016. But these areas would not meet threshold requirements under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. Similarly, there are patches of vegetation that could be recognised as ‘Lowland Rainforest in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions – Endangered Ecological Community’. Council’s ecologist notes that the majority of the vegetation on the site is unmapped and that there is a high chance that scattered paddock trees are rainforest remnant trees and recommends that the scattered trees assessment of the BAM 2020 should be applied when assessing impacts on clearing any native vegetation at the Development Application stage....

A Council-owned strip of land adjacent to the site (which will provide access into 1055 Bruxner Highway) and the Tucki Tucki creek corridor are identified in the NSW Biodiversity Values Map, see Figure 11 in Part 4 Maps. It is considered that the Biodiversity Offset Scheme will be triggered due to a combination of a minor impact to the Biodiversity Values Mapping (approximately 260m2) and the native clearing threshold likely being exceeded due to clearance of native paddock trees. Based on the current proposal, the associated DA will be required to undertake a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report and calculate offset requirements in accordance with the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method (2020).

The attached ecological report also identifies that a targeted survey for Hairy Joint Grass (Arthraxon hispidus), will be required as part of any future development application process and that Tucki Tucki Creek is mapped as habitat for the Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) which is a threatened freshwater species. Whilst not identified on the site, future restoration along Tucki Tucki Creek may assist with local recovery of the species.

This was the site 2014-2018.

            IMAGES: REA Group

Although the relevant planning documents were obliged to be on public exhibition from 3 March until 1 May 2024, there was an express statement that a public hearing is not required to be held into the matter by any person or body under section 3.34(2)(e) of the Act.

Echo, 25 April 2024:

Locals from Goonellabah and Lindendale have called out the proposed Goonellabah industrial precinct at 1055A Bruxner Hwy (Lot1 DP957677) and 245 Oliver Ave (Lot1 DP 1285218) as being the wrong use of the site.

Residents have told The Echo that they don’t oppose development of the site (Precinct 5) but that it should be developed for housing, not as an industrial precinct.

‘We support a residential development on this site, providing much needed housing for Lismore’s flood impacted residents as well as new workers and families to the area,’ said concerned residents of Goonellabah and Lindendale who contacted The Echo.

The Lismore City Council (LCC) Affordable & Diverse Housing Strategy (2022) forecasts a 13.6 per cent increase in the number of houses required in the next 20 years. There were also around 1,800 houses either destroyed or damaged in the 2022 floods that need replacing or moving to higher ground.

‘The 350 houses proposed in the Harmony Estate development is a good start, but we could do so much more.’

In a residential area

Residents have pointed out that the proposed industrial precinct is in the middle of the suburban growth corridor for Lismore and Goonellabah saying they expect the entire area up to Alphapdale Road could all become an extension of the Goonellabah residential community, as flood free housing is needed.

‘Why risk land use conflicts now and in the future including noise, odour, dust, smoke, heavy vehicle traffic, biosecurity and more?’ they asked.

They also point out that the proposed site is on the most elevated area and is positioned along an elevated ridge so it will be visible by surrounding residential areas as well as from the Bruxner Highway.

‘Surely this will create a shameful eyesore at the gateway to Goonellabah and completely contradict the council’s intent as stated in the Harmony Estate Urban Release Area DCP… “provide a positive scenic vista along the Bruxner Highway” (1.2.1 Harmony Estate Urban Release DCP). Why not retain the high ridge across Precinct 5 for much needed housing and community green space offering vistas across Goonellabah and out to the ranges?’ suggest residents. ....

Read the full article at:

https://www.echo.net.au/2024/04/housing-not-industrial-precinct-say-lismore-locals/

for further community opinion on potentially polluted/toxic surface water runoff during high rainfall from the industrial section of the proposed development and the three areas of potential Aboriginal Cultural Heritage significance with the 74ha site.

Help get resurrected 'zombie' development applications out of the NSW planning system. Sign this petition now.

 

"Zombie development applications (DAs), or legacy DAs, are old approvals that are resurrected by a developer and pursued under outdated legislation....‘When a zombie DA gets resurrected, it isn’t measured against current environmental and natural disaster legislation, but instead is tragically measured against older, out of date standards, that are vastly out of step with local community values and crucial environmental regulations,’....‘zombie developments are an ecologically harmful leverage of loopholes in planning legislation, which pushes local populations of threatened species all the way to the edge of their ability to stave off extinction, and robs local communities of places they truly value....‘The accumulative impacts of zombie developments all along the coastline is a “death by a thousand cuts” effect to our threatened species and their rare and beautiful habitats.’"  [Echo, 2 December 2023] 

Property developers and land speculators are using zombie DAs to build large residential subdivisions on high risk floodplains along the 1,973 km length of the NSW coastal zone. Raising the level of communal risk for long-established local communities in times of natural disaster and/or climate emergency.

"GET THE ZOMBIES OUT OF THE PLANNING SYSTEM

Property developers are taking advantage of legal loopholes to force through decades-old developments which are driving the extinction crisis, filling floodplains and causing pain in local communities. These developments are against the evidence of modern science, against modern environmental protection laws and against the wishes of local communities.

They may not like it, but developers should at least follow the law of the day, even if it changes. We can’t have long-dead development proposals haunting our communities forever.

There’s been a groundswell of incredible community action in response to these zombie developments - thousands of locals signing petitions, showing up to rallies and taking direct action. A movement is building to put the planet and people before the profit of property developers.

NOW IS THE MOMENT TO CALL ON THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING PAUL SCULLY TO SHUT THESE ZOMBIE DEVELOPMENTS DOWN."

Sign the petition to NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully MLA at:

https://www.suehigginson.org/zombie_development_sepp

Cabbage Tree Island community dispersed during the February-March 2022 Northern Rivers flooding, remain in limbo twenty months later

Echo, 10 November 2023:

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP is today calling on the NSW Premier and the Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris to undertake an urgent and independent review of the NSW government’s decision not to allow the residents of Cabbage Tree Island to return to live on the island after the 2022 floods.

Cabbage Tree Island is a discrete Aboriginal community located on the Richmond River, between Broadwater and Wardell, part of the Bundjalung Nation. At the time of the 2022 floods there were 220 Aboriginal people living on the island. Their homes are rented from Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, who own and manage the land on behalf of the Aboriginal community.

As Tamara Smith points out, since April 2022 the former Liberal National government, (and since March 2023 the current NSW Labor government) have claimed that they have consulted appropriately with the Cabbage Tree Island community, and that as Aboriginal people it would be the community of Cabbage Tree Island that would be determining their own future.

Promises

Former Premier Dominic Perrottet promised the community of Cabbage Tree Island that they could rebuild their homes on the island and go home. This was also promised by the CEO of Jali Land Council Chris Binge.

However, in a letter to Jali Land Council on 25 August 2023 the NSW Department of Planning and Environment removed the decision from Jali, by saying that the government would not financially support a rebuild on the island for residential purposes.

Last Tuesday, Tamara Smith attended with NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Harris and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin a series of meetings with Cabbage Tree Island community members and other key Aboriginal organisations in the Ballina electorate.

She says it became patently clear that the people who are being dispossessed of their homes – the 24 families – have had almost no voice or agency in the process that saw the government intervene and deny them the option of returning home to the island.

Ms Smith told The Echo, ‘I heard directly from families on Tuesday and over the months since the decision that all but a few of the community want to return home to the island. They have been denied self determination and agency in their own lives and it is unacceptable....

Bridge to Cabbage Tree Island. Photo Tree Faerie.

‘I have seen the Water Technology report that the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs commissioned at the behest of Jali Land Council to investigate options for the families to return to the island and there is a very clear pathway outlined for a return to the island.

‘Why then did the Labor government override Aboriginal self-determination and processes at the 11th hour?’ she asks.

‘I have had reported to me over the last 16 months repeated instances of failures in the consultation processes leading to the decision including only junior bureaucrats representing agencies and ministries throughout the process despite the seriousness of the situation, and the devastating trauma and impact of any decision on the Cabbage Tree Island community,’ said Tamara Smith.

Shameful

‘Why has the Labor government lied to the community and put traumatised people though a long process of so-called consultation only to dictate their fate in the end?

‘It is shameful and a review of the whole process over the last 17 months must be undertaken immediately before it is too late, and to allow for the voices of the residents and community who lived on the island to have their voices heard by government,’ concluded the Ballina MP.....

Read the full article at:

https://www.echo.net.au/2023/11/mp-tamara-smith-calls-for-halt-on-cabbage-tree-island-dispossession/

BACKGROUND

NORTH COAST VOICES:

MONDAY, 4 APRIL 2022

Cabbage Tree Island 2 April - post Northern NSW Floods Feb-March 2022 the island community's homes are in ruin and its families scattered and longing to return home

https://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2022/04/cabbage-tree-island-2-april-post.html

MONDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2023

Nineteen long months after record flooding swept across much of the NSW Northern Rivers region and the future of Cabbage Tree Island is still unresolved

https://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2023/10/nineteen-long-months-after-record.html