Development on Belrose site not ruled out
The incoming Labor Government has refused to rule out scrapping the controversial Lizard Rock development, saying it will work with stakeholders to consider ‘suitable uses’ for the site.
Labor had not yet appointed a planning minister at the time of writing, though a NSW Labor spokesperson told Peninsula Living that the party ‘understands the deep community concerns over the Lizard Rock proposal’.
“The Minns’ government will work with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), the Northern Beaches Council and the newly elected local MP to consider suitable uses for the site.”
Local group Northern Beaches Envirolink (NBE), which has been campaigning strongly to stop the Belrose development, has gathered 11,500 signatures on a petition to be tabled in parliament.
President Conny Harris said the development, which proposes construction of 450 dwellings, would be built on bushfire-prone land with no transport infrastructure.
“What we really want is protection for the land. We don’t just want to have this development stopped. We would like to see this land protected in perpetuity for the people.”
Dr Harris said NBE supported government compensation for the MLALC, who were granted the land and first proposed development at the site over 20 years ago.
MLALC chief executive officer, Nathan Moran, said he hoped people would allow the proposal to ‘run its course’ without interference. “All we’ve asked for is (people) to be impartial… (and) allow the application to be assessed on its merits.”
Mr Moran said there had been a lot of ‘misinformation,’ and he was looking forward to the public consultation period where plans for requirements including transport, environment, and bushfire would allow an ‘informed debate’.
Sydney North Planning Panel is now the planning proposal authority for Lizard Rock, after Council rejected its offer to take up the role.
Council opposes the development, with mayor and incoming Wakehurst MP Michael Regan saying it would be a priority for him once he starts in Parliament.
“(The ALP) has been left in no uncertain terms where my position is. I’m quietly confident we can get a positive result.”