WHAT IS PLANNED FOR CHB AND WHY DOES THE TRUST OPPOSE IT?

Two developers – Rosecorp and Coal & Allied – independently plan to develop a total of 900 homes, engulfing the tiny township (600 for the former, 300 for the latter), The homes may be sold for up to $1 million each.

The developments will increase the population by up to tenfold. They will destroy the unique character, amenity, environment and heritage of the town – a place where there is no infrastructure to support this scale of development, nor should there be.

It will symbolise the triumph of development over environmental and social values we hold dear. And CHB’s destruction is a symptom of broader failures of the planning system. If it can happen in CHB, it will happen elsewhere (see the point below – How can this be allowed to happen?).

WHY IS CATHERINE HILL BAY SPECIAL?

CHB is a rare relic of our fascinating history: the original houses, police station, railway, jetty, power-station, maternity hospital, hotel, school of arts, church, school, cemetery and manager’s house can still be seen in  the coherent setting of the townscape and its natural surrounds. This rich social and built heritage in its spectacular natural setting makes it such a special place.

CHB also has great environmental significance as the habitat for many endangered fauna and flora species, such as the powerful owl, the sugar glider and the native black eyed susan.

This rare combination of historical and social heritage, natural setting and environmental significance makes this township irreplaceable. Once it is destroyed by massive overdevelopment, there will never be anything like it again.

WHAT HAVE CONSERVATION AND PLANNING AUTHORITIES SAID?

The Trust has campaigned to save the Bay for many years. Catherine Hill Bay was listed by the Trust in 1983.

It is also designated a Conservation Area by the Lake Macquarie Council, who have nominated it for State Heritage Listing.

In 2005 the Hunter Regional Strategy ranked CHB as 89th out of 90 areas on the criterion of “suitability for development”.

In 2005 a report from the Department of Environment and Conservation identified 4 threatened plant species, habitat for 9 threatened fauna species, 4 state listed endangered ecological communities and 5 rare vegetation communities in the vicinity of the site.

In 2006, the Land and Environment Court rejected Rosecorp’s earlier development proposal for 600 homes at CHB.

The Department of Planning in 2006 unequivocally recommended against development at CHB on environmental and heritage grounds.

In 2007 the Commonwealth Department of the Environment formally recognized the presence of threatened species and communities at Catherine Hill Bay under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?

Changes to the planning system now threaten many coastal landscapes and other areas, including CHB, which we had believed were made safe from unsympathetic development by policies such as the state’s Coastal Protection Policies. Under Part 3(A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act the Minister for Planning has the power to override environmental and planning policies and decisions by declaring a site ‘state significant’. Part 3(A) may be invoked to green-light the proposed developments at CHB.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENTS?

As at mid February 2008, a decision is expected imminently on the Rosecorp Concept Plan for 600 homes. Public submissions on the Coal & Allied Concept Plan for 300 homes close on 29 February. To find out more about what Coal & Allied and Rosecorp propose go to the Save the Bay website

HOW CAN I HELP STOP THESE DEVELOPMENTS?

  Sign the National Trust petition here
The National Trust is a charity receiving no ongoing government funding.
We rely on your donations and membership to fund campaigns such as this
  Donate to the Trust’s Save the Bay Fighting Fund here
 Join the National Trust
 Attend the Save the Bay rally on Catherine Hill Bay beach, Sun 24 February
 Write expressing your opposition to:
Premier Morris Iemma
Minister for Planning Frank Sartor
Local Member for Swansea  Robert Coombes
Commonwealth Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett
Make a submission on the Coal & Allied proposal, due 29 February
Write a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald