[Greens-Media] Careel Bay is Not for Sale says Pittwater

[Natalie Stevens]

Media Release - 12th August 2005
Cr Natalie Stevens - Pittwater Council

There exists huge community opposition to the proposed Austral Monsoon
Pty Ltd proposal for a 37 Berth Marina to accommodate 34 power boats up
to 18 metres and a travel lift for much larger, up to 75 tonne boats in
Careel Bay, at Sydney's northern beaches suburb of Avalon.

Over 4000 local residents have signed a petition in opposition to the
proposal, and over 300 residents recently attended a public rally
opposing the development, including John Brogden, Pittwaters' local
state member.

"We object to the serious threat this poses to Careel Bay's ecology.  We
believe the shallowness of the bay and its highly sensitive and valuable
marine ecosystem are simply unsuitable for this type of development,"
said David Poppleton, President of the Careel Bay Protection
Association.

Careel Bay is home to a regionally significant rare and intact coastal
wetland system which provides habitat to rare and protected species,
including the migratory birds bushstone curlew, eastern curlew and
wimbrel as well as and fairy penguins, pipe fish and seahorse species.
The Posidonia seagrass has been seen to flower regularly within the bay,
which is a rare occurance in the Sydney region. Posidonia depends on
sunlight for growth, which the marina proposes to overshadow and perhaps
even build on top of.

Pittwater Council is objecting to this proposal, which seeks to override
its planning authority via its questionable state significance and to
place this marina in a waterways recreation zone and next to a 7a(1)
environment protection waterways zone in an area lacking appropriate
infrastructure to cater for the development.  Included in Pittwater
Councils objections is the suggestion that the Minister does not have
the power to determine the development application because a section
89(1) direction has not been made under the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act prior to 1 August 2005.

"The proposed development has the potential to further damage one of the
most significant estuarine wetland ecosystems in the Sydney region,
especially the seagrass beds through increased large power boat usage,
increases in wash, turbidity and possible oil spills from refuelling. " 
said Dr Pat Hutchings, a Principale Rresearch scientist at the
Australian Museum whom has researched and written on Careel Bay since
the 1970s.

"If the Minister for Planning says yes to this he will be
inappropriately making a decision regarding this inappropriate
development.  Does our Planning Minister even know where Careel Bay is,
let alone how important it is? The locals and Pittwater Council who know
the Bay are opposed to it." said Natalie Stevens, Greens Councillor for
Pittwater Council's Northern Ward.

"Will the Minister be taking into account the statutory planning
requirements of Ecologically Sustainable Development and the
precautionary principle when making his decision regarding this DA? If
so,he certainly must refuse it." she said.

For More information contact:

Cr Natalie Stevens 0415 221 239
David Poppleton 0404 888 363
Dr Pat Hutchings 9320 6243