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May 15, 2015
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Issue 69
Residents oppose rezoning west of the motorway
Residents object to plans to redevelop farmland at Mardi
ands Off the Old Farm (HOOF) held a public meeting at Wyong RSL on Tuesday, May 12 to discuss the old farm development proposed for Mardi, west of the freeway.
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According to HOOF, the proposal would rezone 224 hectares of land currently zoned rural, or for environmental protection or management, to allow 300 dwellings plus a commercial area. “One of the main issues is that this opens up areas for development west of the freeway,” HOOF spokesperson, Ms Trish Cselko said. “It has been a
long-standing state government policy that there be no intensification of development west of the freeway,” she said. Ms Cselko said 59 people attended the meeting and passed a resolution to oppose the rezoning of the old farm land. The meeting also passed a resolution to oppose small lot residential expansion west of the M1
Motorway. The Central Coast Regional Strategy (2006-2031) stated that it would limit expansion of the urban footprint by protecting land west of the F3 freeway from further residential development. It noted that the western half of the region (west of the Freeway) is largely comprised of the Central Coast plateaus and Wyong valleys.
Map of proposed Mardi development
“These lands support agricultural production and contain water supply catchments which must be protected from urban and rural residential uses,” Ms Cselko said. “If this proposal gets through there will be no stopping council’s allowing developers to destroy our drinking water catchment areas and agricultural lands.” According to HOOF, community opposition is building to the proposed development. Wyong Council extended the due date for
submissions relating to the Mardi development up until Friday May 15. “Many local Residents have concerns about this proposal,” Ms Cselko said. HOOF has already made submissions to council outlining its opposition to the proposed development. Objections include: its proximity to Mardi Dam and the state forest, the destruction of forest vegetation and fauna. HOOF is also concerned about traffic on Old Maitland Rd,
flooding, fire risks, and social impacts. The group is also objecting to what it considers to be a lack of public consultation, a lack of data about how much land will be destroyed and the impact on existing rate payers of the cost of sewer and water services. Email, 8 May 2015 Trish Cselko, Hands Off the Old Farm (HOOF) Interview, 13 May 2015 Trish Cselko, Hands Off the Old Farm Powerpoint presentation 12 May 2015 HOOF
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