Luis FeLipe Bravo Mena - Reporte Indigo

Land StabilityThe COI-related studies into land stability found that vegetation clearing and development-relatedchanges to creek structure reduce the stability of Escarpment lands. This results in dangerous landslippage and increased flooding impacts downstream, with potential damage to life and property.Land ContaminationThis site remains degraded by its past mining use. Only one sixth of the 300,000m 3 contaminatedmaterial has been removed from the site.Some rehabilitation of contaminated material can be achieved by covering it with soil and seeding itwith local plant species. However, decontamination of the land for this development would requiremajor disturbance of the area, further degrading the land, as well as surrounding land in the IllawarraEscarpment State Conservation Area.Beauty and TourismThis development would be visible from a distance, breaking the ‘wall of green’ described by theCommissioners of Inquiry into Sandon Point in 2003. It would have a negative affect on the visualamenity and therefore tourism values of the lllawarra Escarpment.Healthy Cities Illawarra maintains that development pressures along the coast of the Illawarra arehaving a negative impact on biodiversity, land stability, soil health, the visual amenity of our region andsubsequently on people’s long-term health and well-being.HCI’s position statement on Coastal Planning and Protection (attached) states:“We are concerned at the extent and rate at which urban development is encroachingand impacting on many natural areas in the Illawarra region. If coastal urbandevelopment continues at its current pace we believe that there could be seriousnegative, long-term consequences on the health and wellbeing of the community.”We believe that this development proposal is inappropriate for this sensitive Escarpment land, and askthat consideration be given to the Illawarra Escarpment Coalition’s proposal that the land be purchasedas an addition to the State Conservation Area.Yours sincerelyJill MerrinCommunity Environmental Health OfficerAtt: HCI Position Statement on Coastal Planning and Protection2