Environmental zoning is 'costing jobs'

Mr Fielding owns, in partnership, 16 lots of land that fall under the Wharf Road Coastal Zone Management Plan. He said to zone the area E2 – Environmental Conservation – was laughable.

“It is clearly urban with two caravan parks nearby – one adjoining – and a unit development currently under construction,” Mr Fielding said.

Mr Fielding said they originally bought the land with conditional approval for 34 serviced luxury apartments.

“Had this proceeded, it would have been an economic boost for the town, both in construction and on-going jobs,” he said. “It would also have addressed the dire need for some upmarket accommodation in town.

“But in the course of satisfying the engineering condition, council rezoned the land and rendered it non-operational.” 

Eurobodalla Shire Council’s director of planning and sustainability Lindsay Usher said a coastal hazard study, prepared by council in 2008, concluded the land unsuitable for further development and recommended environmental zoning.

“Council would not zone land in a manner that suggested development potential where it does not exist,” Mr Usher said.

“To do so would be misleading.”

Mr Usher said land valuations are not based solely on their zoning but also on natural constraints such as flooding, available services, and property size, shape and improvements.

Mr Usher also said that council had not adopted a policy of “planned retreat” but had followed the Interim Coastal Hazards Adaptation Code; which will be replaced as current coastal hazard assessment when planning is complete.

“Once these hazards are understood, the project will –  in consultation with the community –  look at how council manages and responds,” Mr Usher said.

Mr Usher said this included how the community and property owners fund and maintain things like rock walls.