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Media Release - Ministers Office Sydney: 23 March 2005 MINISTER REFUSES SUBDIVISION MASTER PLAN TO PROTECT TWEED COAST Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Craig Knowles has refused to adopt a proposed draft master plan for a 240 lot residential subdivision in Fraser Drive, Tweed Heads.
“Based on the advice of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resource which conducted a thorough assessment of this proposal, I have refused to adopt this plan under State Environmental Planning Policy 71.
“SEPP 71 is one of the State Government’s primary tools in protecting the NSW coast from inappropriate development,” Mr Knowles said.
“Amongst the reasons for my refusal is the fact the site has areas of instability and is quite steep. The extensive cut and fill operations proposed to provide level building platforms are not considered best practice and would have resulted in three to six metre retaining walls. That is unacceptable.
“There would also have been significant environmental and residential impacts from the cut and fill operations.
“The on-site remnant vegetation and wetland are ecologically significant and home to a range of threatened and endangered species of plants and wildlife. The current layout of the master plan does not provide sufficient buffers to these areas.
“Subdivision works would result in significant heavy traffic on existing roads and there has been no assessment provided of the ability of the existing road network to carry expected construction traffic.
“In addition, there would be little recreational benefit from the proposed open space, which is not linked within the development.
“Whilst there is development potential for the site, any future development proposal must meet the aims and objectives of SEPP 71, the NSW Coastal Policy 1997 as well as local Council policy, and be more sensitive to the existing landscape.
“This Government is committed to the protection of the NSW coast and ensuring that development in the coastal zone is both appropriate and suitably located.”
© NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
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