Concerns about Tuross Head’s ‘zombie development’ to be taken to parliament

Houses slated to be built as close as 80m to the shorefront under a plan first approved in the ’80s will threaten the area’s rich ecological diversity, concerned residents say.

Rare native species thriving in the secluded waters of Coila Lake, including green prawns and water birds, will be under threat if plans for more than 70 houses on the shorefront go ahead, residents say.

The wetlands near Tuross Head are a haven for local fauna with endemic green prawn and water birds inhabiting the area’s protected littoral rainforest being among the many protected species that frequent the area, says local Robyn Flynn.

The Protect Coila Lake member says the area’s abundant wildlife has long been an attraction for visitors, with nearby walking tracks and isolated swimming spots being popular among locals, as well as visiting tourists and avid birdwatchers.

But, under plans first approved almost four decades ago, the area could soon become a construction site, with 74 houses, roads and bridges slated to be built on the idyllic waterfront.

At its narrowest point, Ms Flynn said houses could be built as close as 80 metres from the shore.

“The development is wrong on so many fronts,” Ms Flynn said.

“To put 70 homes just next to the wetlands, on land that slopes down to Coila Lake, in fragile ecological communities like these, just seems crazy.”

A petition with re than 500 signatures on a government petition advocating against the project.

The wetlands near Tuross Head are a haven for local fauna, including green prawns and water birds that inhabit the area. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

Led by R and W Consulting, the development is one of many “zombie developments” (proposals that have been approved many years ago and laid dormant but now being carried out) littered across the south coast.

Record regional immigration throughout the pandemic has inflamed an existing housing crisis, with long extinct developments across the region being revived, including at Coila Lake.

The Protect Coila Lake group first approached former Bega state Liberal MP Andrew Constance for help in raising their concerns, said Ms Flynn, but after failing to receive a response, turned to Wollongong state Labor MP Paul Scully.

Mr Scully has agreed to present the group’s petition to parliament, and urged stakeholders, including the Eurobodalla Shire Council and R and W Consulting, to listen to the residents’ concerns.

“There’s a zombie development application,” Mr Scully said.

“It was approved, some time ago. (Ms Flynn) and a group of residents have some concerns about it...

“When approvals have been granted some decades ago, and there are community concerns about whether or not it reflects the community as it is today, that approved body should have a look at whether or not the best practice measures for all of the development have been met.”

One of the main issues raised by the group is the need for a new environmental assessment to be held.

The Eurobodalla Shire Council voted in December to seek community feedback on an amendment to the plan that would allow for an additional 17 houses to be built and see homes built on either side of the wetlands, but did not seek an update on the environmental assessment that was conducted when the project was first given approval in 1983.

The wetlands are a tourist drawcard. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

A council spokesman said the council had received documents for a proposal for an amended layout to the approved subdivision, but could only consider the modification of the proposal and could not historically reconsider the original development consent for the subdivision.

“Whether the subdivision does or does not reflect the current needs of the community, the council cannot reconsider its historical approval,” the spokesman said.

“As the developer commenced on-ground work in the 1980s, legally, the existing consent remains valid.

“The proposed modification seeks to reduce residential lot sizes to increases the overall yield, within the same development footprint.”

The Eurobodalla Shire Council is accepting feedback on the proposed amendment until January 24.

The spokesman said the Eurobodalla, like all regional areas, is currently facing a critical housing supply shortage across all income levels and housing types.

“This can be partially alleviated by facilitating development in areas already identified to accommodate growth across the shire,” the spokesman said.

“An increase in available land would likely relieve some pressure on supply elsewhere, including making existing properties available for markets.”

However, Ms Flynn said she wasn’t convinced.

“I don’t think the council is demonstrating much integrity by claiming that they don’t need to do an environmental impact assessment,” she said.

“In anyone’s view, it would be the right thing to do to conduct an environmental impact assessment, especially when you’re looking at a development right next to the lake.

“Some people say that they think maybe the council doesn’t want to do one because it will show exactly what sort of damage 70 new dwellings and how many trees will have to be knocked down, and then the way the sediments is going to end up running into the lake and destroying seagrass beds.

“I think there’s probably perhaps a grain of truth to that.”

Ms Flynn said there was no plan in place to relocate animals that will be dispossessed by the project should it go ahead, and urged for the new Eurobodalla Shire Council to instead consider infrastructure that would better serve the community into the future, including informational walks explaining the area’s unique wildlife and significance in the Bingi Aboriginal Dreaming Track.

Ms Flynn is doubtful the project would positively impact the housing crisis, either, with houses in the area rising in value in recent years.

“It‘s not going to be affordable housing for local people,” she said.

“We all know we need affordable housing and we all know we need development, but just not right next to Coila Lake.

“Not where we’ve got such a beautiful area. People use it for recreation, for exercising, or wildlife photography.

“It's used a lot and it would just be such a shame to see just disappear.

R and W Consulting was contacted for a response, but a spokesman said it was not authorised to provide any further information, or name its client involved with the construction.