Residents react to massive Culburra Beach Sealark residential development
NIMBYS are revolting against a proposal to clear a 47 hectare tract of South Coast native forest to make way for a major housing project, but developers say it will be in the best interest of the community.
NIMBYS are revolting against a proposal to clear a 47 hectare tract of South Coast native forest to make way for a major development, but developers say it will be in the best interest of the local community.
Sustainable property developer Sealark has lodged plans to clear the large area of Culburra Beach bushland for a massive subdivision including 244 low-density housing lots and a large commercial precinct
The proposal also includes several affordable housing lots and public open-space areas “of varying size”.
Residents have flooded the planning portal with objections, claiming the project would “permanently alter the ecology landscape” and pollute the surrounding forest.
According to the development application’s statement of environmental effects, the plan “affects 47.46ha of native vegetation”.
Resident Lisa Watkins claimed the “substantial” clearing would destroy habitat for native wildlife, including Culburra’s black cockatoos.
“The run off onto fragile ecosystems and the local oyster industry – it’s too risky,” she said.
Ms Watkins claimed the project could worsen, not ease, housing pressures, despite Sealark’s push for affordable housing.
“There are already a number of unoccupied houses in Culburra, and there is nothing to say this new estate won’t be half empty most of the time,” she said.
“Consider building higher density housing/apartments in already cleared and developed areas of Culburra – there is a lot of available space without the environmental impact.”
Another resident, Liam Fogg, claimed clear-felling the forest would damage sacred land, stressing its cultural significance to the Jerrinja people.
“The Jerrinja people are connected to Culburra through genealogy and continuous occupation over a period of at least 20,000 years and this site forms an important part of their history,” he said.
“The Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council continues to oppose the West Culburra development on the grounds that clear-felling the forest would cause permanent environmental and cultural damage to their country.”
Resident Tony Wennerborn said the development would also compound traffic and infrastructure problems already straining the town.
“Traffic is increasingly unsafe, especially for elderly residents crossing Culburra Rd between the IRT, the Club, and the shops,” he said.
“Before any new development is approved, substantial funding must be directed toward upgrading infrastructure and essential services.
“Without this, the DA will worsen existing problems and reduce the safety and liveability of Culburra Beach.”
But others argue the project would future-proof the region.
Long-term resident Leonie Sinclair, who has lived locally for 40 years, said it would “enable the town to thrive”.
“It will give the young people and people wanting to move to the Shoalhaven land for housing,” she said.
Ms Sinclair pointed to plans to retain habitat for native species, saying this “more than compensates for the vegetation loss by clearing”.
Despite the wave of community objections, Sealark is pushing Shoalhaven Council to approve the project, arguing it is in the public interest and would “provide for positive social and economic outcomes for the local community including housing supply and employment opportunities”.
Shoalhaven Council considered the proposal and the volume of objections at Tuesday’s meeting.
A motion to allow further discussions between council and the Southern Region Planning Panel was narrowly defeated five votes to four.
The proposal remains on public exhibition until late December.
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Originally published as Residents react to massive Culburra Beach Sealark residential development
