A controversial development application to build several student bush cabins on Frensham grounds is on public exhibition ahead of a Land and Environment court date.
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A neighbour notification document stated that the development application 20/0747 for proposed amended plans would be on public exhibition between September 20, 2021, and October 11, 2021.
The amended plans include an updated Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW Rural Fire Service) plan and an updated Water Management plan.
The development application was previously put before Wingecarribee Shire Council on September 9, 2020, and was deferred.
Winifred West Schools ltd, which owns and operates Frensham School took the matter to the Land and Environment Court after it was deferred.
The matter will be heard on October 14.
The proposed development included:
- Six student cabins, each being a single storey and accommodating a maximum of 72 students.
- Two staff cabins.
- A multi-purpose hall building containing common room, kitchen, staff office, laundry, drying facilities, amenities storage area and outdoor barbecue area.
- Central 'fire pit' and communal seating area, with sandstone blocks to create an amphitheatre seating area.
- New vehicular access including a bridge over the watercourse.
- Additional on-site parking for 5 cars.
The development also included plans to remove 249 trees, of which 85 are native trees and 16 koala feed trees, the remaining trees are Radiata Pine trees.
Residents and community groups have raised several concerns over the koala and wombat habitats on that land.
Environment group WinZero published an open letter to the Board of Winifred West Schools (Frensham) on August 11 and asked the school to abandon its DA for student accommodation.
The open letter was signed by representatives of the Australia Wildlife Society, Wildlife carers, Bushcare Groups, Wombatised, Birdlife Southern Highlands, Winzero, and the Australian Native Plant Society.
"The DA will destroy valuable wildlife habitat and sever an important biodiversity corridor," the open letter read.
"The nine buildings proposed (six dormitories, two staff cabins, a communal hall with a large fire pit amphitheatre) are intended to give the 72 students a 'bush experience'.
"The school says that the accommodation will only occupy 0.8 hectares but fails to clarify that 4.2 hectares (11 acres) of the bush will be cleared, because of the fire regulations requiring an "Asset Protection Zone".
"The accommodation is to be located directly on top of a collective wisdom of 12 wombat burrows. The wombats are in the only spot that completely avoids the 100-year flood line.
"This is why the wombats chose it many generations ago.
"Humans have other nearby locations to choose from, the wombats do not. Destruction of habitat is the greatest threat facing our wildlife in Australia."
The public letter stated that several species of wildlife such as possums, sugar gliders, endangered bats, flying foxes, echidnas, platypus, wombats and many species of birds, frogs and insects called the Lower Holt home.
"Wingecarribee Council shows that the site is in a crucial part of the Primary Biodiversity Corridor running between Mt Gibraltar and Mt Alexandra," it read.
"Connectivity of habitats is essential to maintain and enhance biodiversity and is particularly important with the advance of climate change.
"This development will effectively break that connectivity. The biodiversity report is also seriously deficient in the range of wildlife said to exist there.
"The report said they observed only one wombat scat, notwithstanding that the wildlife carers know that there are at least 12 wombats in the wisdom.
"Six of these are rescued orphans, that wildlife carers rehabilitated (a process that takes 2 to 3 years) as part of a loved and valued environmental studies program for the students and there have been recorded sightings of koalas."
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Head of Frensham School, Sarah McGarry said the school had undertaken three community information sessions with parents, alumnae and the broader community.
"These were on Zoom which was not our preference but the only option during COVID-lockdowns," she said.
"At the sessions, the Chair of the Board of Frensham Schools, Elizabeth Stuart, and our ecologist, Dr David Robertson, joined me to explain the purpose, design detail and impact minimisation of our proposed development."
Ms McGarry said a lengthy Question and Answer report with all the questions asked in the community sessions would soon follow for anyone who couldn't attend the meetings.
"It was fair to say that we received the full spectrum of responses - from overwhelming endorsement and wanting to be involved, to liking the program but strongly questioning its location," she said.
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Ms McGarry said the matter was before the Land and Environment Court as the school felt there was "no other option".
"We had a short timeframe to act after the council deferred a decision on the development application," she said.
"Given the council was later suspended, we determined to challenge the deferral through the court rather than wait for the council to be in a position to reconsider."
A community information session held on September 16 was attended by concerned resident Kim Leevers who said the event left him with more questions than answers.
"I was interested to hear the ecologist Dr David Robertson, of Cumberland Ecology's report of the environment of the Lower Holt," he said.
"It was interesting in the explanation of how the destruction of the threatened and ever-diminishing Southern Highlands Shale Woodland would be offset by the purchase of credits.
"In the case of these woodlands, as there are limited opportunities to contribute to the preservation of the vestiges of this environment funds would be required to be paid to a biodiversity fund.
"This means that the destroyed forest would not be like for like replaced."
Mr Leevers said that while Frensham talked about their sustainability values and credentials, he felt that there was "a double standard" in their actions.
"It contributes to my doubts about the veracity of their intentions."
Another concerned resident, Helen Seville said she was "well aware" of the value of the Lower Holt bushland.
"I admire the considerable work done by those caring for the wisdom of wombats in this area, including treating them for sarcoptic mange," she said.
"It is hard to see any wisdom within the Frensham Board in putting forward an inappropriate proposal when they have other lands available which would not involve destroying a significant habitat.
"Did they think that the local community would not object? Any thinking resident of the Highlands with a concern about protecting our remaining wildlife would object to this proposal."
Information relating to the proposed development can be viewed on Councils DA Tracker or by contacting Council's Customer Service Centre between 8.30 am - 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Councils DA Tracker https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Development/DA-Tracker
Click on the" e-Track" link, development application 20/0747.
Any person during this period of public exhibition may lodge with the council a submission either in support or by way of objection in relation to the proposed development.
Submissions must be addressed to the Acting General Manager, Wingecarribee Shire Council and can be made in the following ways:
Mail: PO Box 141, Moss Vale 2577 or email mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
