I grew up in Redman Avenue Thirroul and every morning when I walked out of the back door of our home, I would see the sun on the magnificent Illawarra Escarpment.

Protection of the Illawarra Escarpment – Views of Councillor Kerrie Christian – May 31 1998

There has been considerable concern in the community about protection of the Illawarra Escarpment, including the sensitive foothills. Although the Fair Trading process had been established to bring the even more sensitive escarpment core into public ownership there is concern that this has meant that this has been achieved by allowing development rights in albeit less critical areas, but nevertheless areas that are of concern. There is also the concern that too much has been given away by way of number of lots able to be developed compared with the land given into public ownership. It has been claimed that Fair Trading has increased the rate of development on the foothills. In other words Fair Trading is destroying what it was meant to save. The buffer zone between the Escarpment Core and the urban areas is decreasing. The green backdrop to Wollongong is being destroyed. These strong public concerns were demonstrated by the rally held in November 1997 where 300 people gathered to focus attention on the issues surrounding a number of recent and longstanding rezonings and developments.

I therefore support the call for a Commission of Inquiry into the Illawarra Escarpment and that this include the foothills, and further that there be a moratorium on all current proposals for rezoning and development until the Inquiry is concluded and the recommendations published.

-My reasons for supporting the Inquiry also include specifically :

– Need for protection of undeveloped foothills land (green backdrop to urban Wollongong and need for buffer zone between suburban development and State Recreation Area

– Major problems of high bush fire risk along length of Escarpment and foothills

– Need for conservation at foothills level where biodiversity is at greatest risk

– Need for protection of creek lines and water quality (from fill, diversion urban impact)

– Because a long list of threatened sites has been identified by the Illawarra Escarpment – – Coalition along the Escarpment and its foothills – we feel there is an urgent need to broaden the Inquiry to include the undeveloped foothills

I support the Draft Terms of Reference proposed by the Illawarra Escarpment Coalition

1. To review all undeveloped land between existing residential development in the Wollongong Local Government Area and land zoned 7(a). This includes 7(b), 7(c), 2 (a), 2(a1), Rural Residential and non urban land.

2. To place a moratorium on all rezoning and development on the above land. Any current rezoning, development applications and Fair Trading applications are to be put before the Commission of Inquiry for consideration as part of that Inquiry.

3. To assess whether the current zoning and objectives of these zones reflect current best practices for bush fire protection, preservation of water quality, management of land instability and conservation of existing fauna and flora species diversity, including the protection of threatened species.

4. To identify issues relevant to the future management of the State Recreation Area and also to make appropriate recommendations for the management of 7(a) and 7(b) land held by Wollongong Council and private land owners.

5. To review the effectiveness, success and appropriateness or otherwise of the Fair Trading Policy (and its effectiveness on the foothills) as a means of acquiring land for public ownership.

6. To examine, assess and recommend strategies that would complement the Fair Trading Policy, to bring all escarpment land and foothills land (not currently developed) into public ownership.

7. To assess and recommend policies and management strategies needed to put in place to minimise the impact of suburban development on conservation areas (eg where 2(a) residential zoning abuts 7(a) or 7(b).

8. Review existing mining land on the Illawarra Escarpment and Escarpment foothills and make recommendations about the rehabilitation of this land and its inclusion in the Illawarra Escarpment Park, at the expiry of the useful life of any mines.

9. To advise on the appropriateness and procedure for the listing of the Escarpment as

part of the National Estate.

10. To consider the zoning, protection and ownership of the Illawarra Escarpment located outside the Wollongong Local Government Area.