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Culburra Residents & Ratepayers Action Group
Write a submission objecting to West Culburra DA 2025/ 2276 before Dec 19th! Click HERE and SCROLL down to find out how.
WRITE A SUBMISSION
These are the key issues...
The DA25/2276 will be assessed by the Southern Regional Planning Panel who will determine if the DA fulfills the conditions of the Concept Plan which was approved by the NSW DPIE in 2020. There is a 1000 character (not word) limit. But you can also attach a longer submission.
Below is a summary of the key issues, and you can download a more detailed summary HERE. Please choose any reasons that resonate with you to include in your own words in your objection submission.
1. Pollution of surrounding waterways including Lake Wollumboola and the Crookhaven River. The developer's MARTENS report (2022) establishing a groundwater baseline is deeply flawed. Only two groundwater samples were taken on the southern boundary (Lake Wollumboola side) of the development (GW204 & 205) which is insufficient to "satisfy baseline". The MARTENS survey is contradicted by a survey of radon and CO2 concentrations in surface waters of Lake Wollumboola carried out by NSW OEH Estuary & Catchments Science Team (Office of Environment and Heritage) on 1st July 2015 to investigate the potential for groundwater influence in the lake. This OEH survey was preceded by over 300mm of rain during April and a further 93mm of rain in late June, therefore conditions were favourable for detecting groundwater influence. The results provide clear evidence that Lake Wollumboola is significantly affected by groundwater inputs. The developer therefore FAILS to prove a Nil or beneficial effect on Lake Wollumboola and the Crookhaven River.
2. Inadequate climate data. The climate data used by the developer is outdated and of too short duration (8 years), taken from a station in Nowra located 21 km inland from Culburra Beach. This does not accurately reflect the current climate of Culburra Beach. The developer fails to prove that the proposed stormwater filtration ponds will function adequately in the weather conditions Culburra Beach has experienced over the last 3 years. Severe flooding has occurred annually since this concept plan recieved conditional approval, resulting in drainage and sewerage overflowing into houses, the Crookhaven river and Lake Wollumboola. The developer has therefore not satisfied B1 of the DPIE Conditions & Determination (2021).
3. Damage to the oyster industry due to contamination by pollutants and stormwater running off into Curleys Bay & the Crookhaven River due to above flaws in the developer's groundwater studies as well as the location of the filtration ponds on the site. Heavy rainfall will cause these to fill and overflow before any filtration can occur.
4. Destruction of 47 hectares of wildlife habitat. Displacement and potential destruction of endangered species of wildlife on the site including Yellow-bellied Glider, the Gang Gang Cockatoo, the Glossy Black Cockatoo, the Powerful Owl and the White-Footed Dunnart.
5. Foreshore erosion and destruction of mangroves due to water runoff and human habitation less than 100 metres from Curley's Bay.
6. Over-population of the village will increase the stress on already crumbling roads, sewerage and failing open drainage system without any planned infrastructure upgrades by Council to remedy this.
7. Traffic congestion on Culburra Road. Fire Safety will be seriously compromised due to the one-road-in, one-road-out nature of access.
8. Destruction of Indigenous culture and heritage - the site is of cultural and spiritual significance to the Jerrinja Community.
9. It will not solve the affordable housing crisis because the land will be sold off at market value so will become holiday homes.
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