Four election candidate join to protect Kariong land
Four State election candidates have issued a joint statement calling for protection of the "Kariong Sacred Lands".
Representatives from the Animal Justice Party, the Sustainable Australia Party and independent candidates Ms Lisa Bellamy and Aunty Colleen Fuller said sensitive bushland should not be rezoned for housing developments.
"If Local Aboriginal Land Councils across NSW are given the green light by the Government to rezone and develop highly ecologically and culturally sensitive bushland, then the impacts will be disastrous and permanent," the group stated.The group said the development would also add traffic to Woy Woy Rd, increase the fire risk in the area, and pollute the surrounding National Park.
Animal Justice Party candidate Ms Emily McCallum said: "This part of Kariong is registered as an Area of Regional Koala Significance and is full of rare, threatened and endangered species.
"These include the red-crowned toadlet, the giant burrowing frog and the eastern pigmy possum, the smallest possum species in the world.
"These animals rely on the endangered wetlands at Kariong Sacred Lands for their very existence."
"This development would bulldoze all of the trees, remove all of the rock - including the cultural heritage, fill in the endangered wetlands, and leave nothing but a huge pile of dirt."
Independent candidate for Gosford Ms Lisa Bellamy said: "The proposed development has caused great division, distress and conflict in our community and we really need leadership here."
Ms Bellamy said land was zoned E2 Environmental Conservation "so it couldn't be developed".
"Allowing a private land developer to claim, rezone and develop highly sensitive bushland could set a precedent that has far-reaching implications for the environment across the State."
Upper House candidate for the Sustainable Australia Party, North Sydney councillor William Bourke, said: "Our Central Coast candidates fully appreciate the need for affordable housing and advocate for that, but there are other places on the Central Coast where such development would be much more suitable and welcomed by locals."
"The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council should be treated fairly and equitably, and that all stakeholders including traditional custodians should be heard by the Government.
"With the potential for legislation that weakens environmental protection to be rolled out across the State, we feel the State election gives us the perfect platform to create awareness on this issue," Cr Bourke said.
Independent Legislative Council candidate Aunty Colleen Fuller said: "As an aboriginal woman with ancestral ties to the Central Coast, it's at the core of my culture to care for country and community.
"Seeing these other candidates join forces to support looking after our Sacred lands gives me hope that other First Nations people will be supported when their precious local bushland is under threat."
SOURCE:
Media release, 17 Mar 2023
Lisa Bellamy, Independent candidate for Gosford