Coastwatchers Challenge Shire’s Industrial Land Strategy

In a comprehensive submission to the Eurobodalla Shire’s Local Environment Plan Coastwatchers has challenged the Council to review their industrial lands planning due to the Associations significant environmental concerns over the chosen sites and the prevailing global economic climate.

President of Coastwatchers, Mark Fleming said, “I think the time is right for the Council to reconsider their industrial land planning in light of the sensitivity of the environment in the identified areas and the recent withdrawal of Walker Corporation from the bulky goods proposal at Surf Beach near Batemans Bay.”

 “The industrial lands of greatest concern to the Association are the North Moruya site and the coastal land at Surf Beach. Both these areas have significant environmental issues that should preclude them from future development.”

He continued, “With the downturn in the economy the Council should take the opportunity to review their plans for the future and find less sensitive areas to develop or look at the existing industrial lands for opportunities to attract new businesses to the Shire.”

“This is why Coastwatchers have taken the unusual step of hiring a professional planning consultant to produce our submission and send it to the Council before the official exhibition period has been advertised. We believe that if the Council look seriously at forward planning for industry in the shire they will be able to find more suitable sites than those currently under consideration.”