Aboriginal land council’s development plan divides opinion

Residents living in Sydney’s northern beaches have lashed a proposal to build 450 dwellings on 71ha of cherished nature reserve, calling on the plans to be ripped up.

Furious locals living in Sydney’s northern beaches have expressed their outrage over a council’s proposal to develop houses on bushland within their neighbourhood.

In a NSW-first, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) has proposed to build residential dwellings on Crown land in an attempt to preserve nearly 1000ha of other land Sydney-wide, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

The plan includes the development of 450 homes on 71ha of land within the Sydney suburb of Belrose, with MLALC CEO Nathan Moran saying it’s the best way to “generate an income to address (the community’s) needs”.

“We are the largest private owners of land in the Northern Beaches and Hornsby (local government areas), yet we have also become the largest ratepayers with the largest liabilities,” he said.

Mr Moran also mentioned that the MLALC will be the first Aboriginal land council with intentions to “develop land” rather than selling it to a developer.

Elders claim the plan would allow them to preserve the pristine bushland and help the indigenous community.

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Nathan Moran at the council’s proposed development site in Belrose. Adam Yip/ Manly Daily. Picture: Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

But locals living in and around the area, also known as Lizard Rock, have hit back at the proposal, demanding that it remains as bushland.

There were 986 objections made to the plans when it was first put up for discussion at the start of the year, with Sydneysiders contesting the impact infrastructure would have on the environment and increased risk of traffic congestion among other issues.

One resident from Forestville, which is located just over 4km south of Belrose, is urging the council to preserve the bushland, trees, nature walks and wildlife the area is renowned for.

“It is utterly reprehensible that you would even consider bulldozing SIX native bushland areas for what … property development!? No, absolutely no,” the resident wrote in their objection to the council.

“There is no building on this planet that could ever be more important than native Australian bushland full of ancient forests and wildlife habitat. Please, I implore you, do not sell out our bushland for greedy developers’ profits.”

Locals have slammed the MLALC's proposal to develop bushland into suburbs within NSW's Belrose area. Picture: Facebook / Nicole Romain

Meanwhile, a firefighter living in the 2086 postcode raised concern over what the plans would mean for Australian wildlife receding in the Belrose street of Ralston Ave.

“The area has already been shown to contain rare and unusual wildlife for the Northern Beaches including the only wombats I’ve heard of in the area,” they said.

“Further I note that recently the koala was put on the endangered species list in NSW. Koala have been spotted in these areas only recently and it has long been a koala habitat zone. How can this land then be cleared for housing?”

The local also added that as a firefighter, the proposal filled them “with dread” as the council would be building houses in a “bushfire prone” area.

“The other enormous risk is the problem of bushfires. The area is bushfire prone with several bushfires having occurred in and around the areas earmarked for development. How is building new housing in a flame zone a feasible or sensible proposition?” they questioned.

A Newport local also backed concerns on the bushfire front, stating: “450 homes with say four people per house (equals) 1,800 people. In a bushfire threatening area and all those people trying to evacuate down the totally inadequate Morgan Road. This area is just not fit (for) the amount of natural land you are wiping out and replacing with “cheap” housing.”

Koalas are among some of the country's native species living in the area and are under threat if the MLALC continues with plans for development. Picture: Facebook / Matt Kemp

Residents are urging the MLALC to tear up plans for development in order to save local flora and fauna. Picture: Facebook / Nicole Romain

Meanwhile, some residents were more relentless in their responses, comparing the idea of built-up Frenchs Forest suburbs to Sydney’s low socio-economic western suburbs of Liverpool and Campbelltown.

“If you do this you may as well not call the area Frenchs Forest and change the names of the suburbs to Zoran Park or Miller or Airds,” a Frenchs Forest resident said.

“There will be absolutely no appeal to living in this area where there is a current balance between natural wonders, aboriginal sacred lands and our everyday living.”

Another enraged resident from Newport, who simply wanted to provide their comment, added: “Another perfect example of how greed and ignorance is disguised under the covers of helping others and providing assistance.”

In addition to the hundreds of locals against the proposal, Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan is also contesting the matter, and believes there should be alternative ways the government can support the Aboriginal community.

But among the many submissions, not all were against the idea - with a few agreeing with the proposal.

A Belrose resident wrote they were willing to accept the proposal on the grounds that the land surrounding Lizards Rock is treated respectfully and that the infrastructure is designed to fit in with the environment.

“I am writing to conditionally support the proposed plan. I strongly support the goals of the projects in helping the local Aboriginal community. I would like to hear more about the proposed uses of funds and how this will be channelled into services such as health and education,” they said.

“The last thing I would like to see is suburban lots with ‘McMansions’ replacing native bushland as this would ruin the existing environment. Close consideration needs to be given to lot size, restrictions on building type and size, assurance and buildings will blend into the environment.”

Lizard Rock is one of the areas under threat by the MLALC's plan to develop the area. Picture: Facebook / Nicole Romain

A second supporter said developing the land would play an important role in the area’s history.

“The story of our land and preserving its history is fundamental to our identity and relationships with its First Nations, native beings and ancient land,” they resident from postcode 2086 said.

“I would be honoured to live in such a cohesive suburb of indigenous spirit and honest history.”

Despite the proposal receiving community backlash, the MLALC could soon have the green light to go ahead with the plan after Planning Minister Anthony Roberts released a land development delivery plan for the Northern Beaches.

Mr Robert’s support could see the MLALC develop up to six sites of bushland, including Lizard Rock in Belrose.

The Minister said the project has the potential to support new homes, create jobs and will be a “great boon” to the area.

Locals are doing all they can to ensure their voices are heard with Facebook group Save The Northern Beaches Bushlands also established to help fight the proposal.

News.com.au has reached out to the group’s administrator to seek comment on how the online community plans to contest the plan.

Originally published as Aboriginal land council’s development plan divides opinion