The Hon Tony Kelly MLC
Minister Assisting the Minister for Lands
Level 34, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place,
SYDNEY NSW 2000 21 February 2005

Your Ref MIN 03/5182

CROWN LAND AT SOUTH DURRAS

Dear Mr Kelly

Last year Stephen Fenn, your Senior Policy Adviser, wrote responding to The Coastwatchers Association's request that Crown Land portions 92-95 at South Durras be added to the Muramarang National Park. He indicated that these lands may be needed to "cater for future expansion and community infrastructure needs." He also went on to say that the Minister "has a responsibility to ensure the amenity of the existing settlements is not compromised." I would like to respond to those points.

Future expansion
Over the past year there has been considerable community consultation regarding the settlement strategy for the Shire. A key theme of the strategy, as set out in the discussion paper published jointly by Council and DIPNR and overwhelmingly supported in focus group meetings, is:

Sustaining coastal places and communities and valuing non-urban areas
This means limiting coastal urban sprawl. Existing coastal settlements and their scenic natural and coastal settings will be recognised and protected…

In keeping with the Strategy and the wishes of local people, South Durras Village should not expand.

Community infrastructure needs
The Village is currently not connected to the Shire water supply. Residents rely on tanks, value their high quality water and do not over-use it. In recent years they have found that they have had a more secure water supply than the towns that are connected to the Shire supply and which have been on water restrictions.

Council has improved monitoring of septic tanks so that they are now working effectively, the caravan park nearest the Lake has already installed a state-of the art sewage package treatment plant, and as houses are redeveloped more efficient modern systems replace older ones. On-site sewage treatment systems are working well and not resulting in pollution.

The majority of residents at South Durras do not want reticulated town water or sewerage.

Responsibility to ensure the amenity of the existing settlements is not compromised
We believe that your responsibility as a Minister lies in NOT releasing the Crown Land for expansion or for infrastructure such as a sewage treatment plant. The amenity of the South Durras village and the high conservation value of Durras Lake rely on the small, low impact nature of the village.

The release of the Crown Land would have a devastating effect by increasing the land available for urban expansion and by allowing a massive increase in the density of the settlement due to availability of reticulated sewerage. Elsewhere in the Shire small lots and medium density housing have converted leafy suburbs to expanses of masonry.

Release of the Crown Land has the potential to more than double the population of South Durras and its impact on the Lake. With the elimination of tanks and the increase in hard surfaces stormwater run-off will increase and water quality in the Lake will be affected. Larger permanent and holiday populations will mean more vehicles making tracks around the shores, more boats, the need to convert more coastal bushland to parking areas, more impact on endangered shorebirds which often nest near the village, and more rubbish dumping in the National Park.

Our Association urges you to ensure the amenity of the existing settlement is not compromised by including the Crown Land portions 92-95 in Muramarang National Park.

Yours sincerely

Jenny Edwards
Hon. Secretary