Manly Dam: Aged care CEO Ciaran Foley says $18m development will enhance environment
Environmental campaigners fear that 24 new senior living units on the northern beaches could endanger a rare fish that has existed for 60 million years. The boss of the company behind the proposal has argued the plans won’t impact the ecology.
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A rare Gondwanan fish that has been around for 60 million years is at risk from a proposed $18m northern beaches housing development, environmentalists fear.
In a current and ongoing biodiversity study, 11 Climbing Galaxias fish have been identified so far at Curl Curl Creek at Manly Dam, the only place in Sydney where they still exist.
Now there are concerns over their future following plans for 24 independent living units and a gym, spa and steam room in a communal room building at 181 Allambie Rd, in Allambie Heights, submitted to Northern Beaches Council in May.
The site on Crown land is next to Curl Curl Creek – the main feeder creek to Manly Dam and recognised as having a “very high ecological value”.
The development will also see 85 trees on the site removed.
A similar plan by the same applicant Allambie Heights Village Ltd was rejected in September last year over concerns about environmental impacts on the site and adjoining lands.
The revised $17.9m proposal has positioned the communal building further away from the creek.
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Allambie Heights Village Ltd, argued they had exhaustively explored any environmental concerns and the build includes the planting of 130 trees.
“We have ticked every box and gone beyond what anyone would expect,” he said.
“We are not going to be affecting the environment, we are actually enhancing it.”
However, Malcolm Fisher, from the campaign group Save Manly Dam, said the new application was very similar to the last and the development was upstream from the “headquarters of Curl Curl Creek” which is the only habitat in Sydney of the ancient Climbing Galaxias fish.
He said the Climbing Galaxias is a freshwater fish which is unique because it can climb damp rock faces using its fins.
“These Gondwanan fish live below this development and will be impacted by the excavation,” Mr Fisher said.
“It is the only place in Sydney they have been found because their habitat is being threatened.”
He said he feared an increase in stormwater erosion and urban pollutants would find its way into downstream areas, as happened during the Manly Vale School build.
He said the endangered Eastern Pygmy Possum has also been recorded nearby, and a recent environmental report from Northern Beaches Council said the catchment is a known habitat to “a range of native and threatened fauna species including Red Crowned Toadlet”.
However, the report also said the proposed development application was an improvement on the last DA.
“The main building is now set further away from the creek line and the proposed infrastructure arrangement is generally offering a wider buffer,” it said.
While the report also noted that the proposal is not fully satisfying the council’s policy in terms of protection of waterways the proposed vegetation regeneration might mitigate the impact of the fire safety zone, that will have to be created around the site to protect the new homes from bushfires.
The environment report found in favour of the application.
A number of northern beaches residents have already submitted objections to the proposal.
Mr Foley said it was easy for the Save Manly Dam group to “throw around phrases” but he had employed the best of consultants to ensure the build is contributing to the flora and fauna on the site, not detracting from it.
He said the development would also provide much needed senior living housing for which there is a waiting list on the peninsula.
Residents have until July 20 to have their say on the proposal.