This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) still expects construction of 450 dwellings and an Indigenous cultural centre on Native Title bushland to go ahead later this year, despite the controversial development’s growing role at the centre of the tussle for the seat of Wakehurst in the upcoming NSW state election.
MLALC’s plans for Lizard Rock in Belrose would be Australia’s first residential development undertaken by a Land Council, and has taken a major step forward following the Sydney North Planning Panel deciding that it should proceed to Gateway determination in readiness for rezoning of the wholly-owned freehold land following the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
The MLALC intends to develop 450 low-density dwellings on the 71-hectare site on Morgan Road, and introduce a community education facility to celebrate the land’s Aboriginal heritage, while close to 30% of the site will be maintained as open space and conservation area.
Aboriginal sites on the land, including engravings and paintings, will be conserved by the MLALC and remain open to the local community.
Nathan Moran, CEO of the MLALC, said the organisation plans to maintain the area’s bio-diversity but also protect it from bushfires. It has developed a bushfire hazard protection plan as a result of extensive consultations with key stakeholders and experts over a number of years, Moran said. The bushfire prevention plan features fire trails, new and upgraded roads and buffer zones to ensure the dwellings, historical features, flora and fauna species, will be better protected than they are now.
The development has become a hot-button in the seat of Wakehurst – held by long-serving retiring Liberals MP and Minister Brad Hazzard – ahead of the NSW state election on 25th March. Northern Beaches Mayor and now independent candidate Michael Regan has made blocking the project a major issue in his campaign, saying it will put houses in bushfire zones and decimate bushland. He has told The Sunday Telegraph that if elected, he would offer support to whichever party vowed to bring an end to the project. That publication reported that he had two federal teal MPs at his campaign launch.
Moran said, “It is very disappointing that we have followed strictly the correct planning approval processes yet a few local politicians are trying to gain political capital through making misleading or untrue statements about our plans for Lizard Rock”.
“We have the vast majority of the community supporting us as we strive for self-determination and financial independence and find it very disappointing a few are cynically making Lizard Rock a political football in the lead-up to the NSW election.”
Hazzard has held the seat since 1991; the Liberal party has won the seat at every election since 1962 bar the 1978 and 1981 contests. Among Regan’s competition is Liberal Toby Williams, Labor’s Sue Wright and Ethan Hrnjak of the Greens.
MLALC said it qualifies public statements of the proposed development project involving clearing of 46 football fields by recognising that Northern Beaches LGA has 15,000 hectares of National and reserves in Northern Beaches LGA, meaning Lizard Rock uses 0.25% of bushland in Northern Beaches, and also represents 0.15% of the total developed area within Northern Beaches LGA.
It argues the residential development will “deliver a unique community precinct, featuring expansive conservation areas and public open spaces, improved transport links and much needed affordable housing”.
“We look forward to continuing to consult with the local community about this exciting development, which will also deliver affordable dwellings for essential services personnel, great community amenities and infrastructure,” Moran said.
Lizard Rock is located close to the Wakehurst Parkway and Forest Way, as well as the new Public Hospital at French’s Forest and major bus routes. It could provide road upgrades, pedestrian and cycle links, and generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in its construction.
The project has been opposed by the Northern Beaches Council.
