Ms Diane Garood
Regional Manager, South Coast 15 August 2007
Parks and Wildlife
Department of Environment and Climate Change

"SEA ACRES ECO SANCTUARY", MALONEYS BEACH

When Coastwatchers were first shown the concept plans for the Maloney's Sea Acres resort in Dec 2005 we told the proponents that it was a great idea in the wrong place. Our opinion has not changed and we urge the Department not to degrade Murramarang National Park by allowing access to the site through the Park.

COASTWATCHERS MAIN REASONS FOR OBJECTING

IMPACT ON THE SITE
The environmental qualities of the site have been recognized by the proponents (see their website www.seaacresecosanctuary.com , by surveys done prior to the declaration of the National Park extensions, and by the Dept of Planning. The forest is in good condition and is habitat for many threatened animal and bird species.

The proponents' media release in July 2007 said only 7ha would be affected. At the initial presentation in Dec 05 the project was said to take about 20ha. We believe both cases understate the disturbance because of the separation of the various parts of the development on the site and the requirements for clearing for bushfire protection in this very hazardous location

IMPACT ON THE NATIONAL PARK

Upgrading of tracks in the National Park

In Feb 2007 the Minister for Environment replied to Coastwatchers ---
"the northern section of Pine Knob Road is narrow and may not be of a suitable standard to provide access for the type of development proposed. DEC would not support any proposal to widen and upgrade this road for the purpose of accessing the resort."

We understand that the proponents are currently negotiating with NPWS to use an unformed road through the park to gain access via North Head Road. The unformed road would have to cross a steep gully and would cause significant damage to the park - at least as much as the upgrading of Pine Knob Rd. We urge your Department not to allow the construction of the unformed road.

In any case North Head Road is narrow, dusty and winding and is not a suitable access route to the resort. It would be a death trap if used for evacuation during bushfires. The road is not appropriate for heavier traffic. The capacity of the resort is such that there will have to be many movements per day to and from it either by 4WD bus as the proponents suggest, and/or by private vehicles (presumably staff will drive their own vehicles). Resort users are sure to put future pressure on NPWS to further upgrade the roads to make them safer. Why should the park be degraded and public funds used to facilitate this unsuitable proposal?

Side effects of use of Park roads for access

We are also concerned that increased traffic because of the resort will mean more road kills of native fauna and greater risk of bushfires from cigarette butts, etc.

Increased risk of wild fire

It is likely that the resort will have to do regular bushfire hazard reduction and, due to the size of the property, we fear that hazard reduction burns will be a preferred method. However, escaped hazard reduction burns are a common cause of wildfire. The resort will also have a camping area which will further increase the risk of fire escaping into the park.

We congratulate your Department on the way that Murramarang Park is being managed and hope that your good work will not be compromised by this proposed development.

Our Association requests to be kept informed of negotiations with the proponents of the resort and urges your Department to refuse to allow the unformed road to be constructed through the Park. For the same reasons we also object strongly to the upgrading of any of the other minor tracks such as Carl's Mountain Road and Gravel Pit Road.

Jenny Edwards,
Secretary