PORT Stephens Council is likely to recommend the Joint Regional Planning Panel refuse a development application for the expansion of Soliders Point Marina, according to councillor Geoff Dingle.
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Port Stephens Council confirmed it had advised the applicant for the proposed extension of Soldiers Point Marina that a Species Impact Statement (SIS) would be required as part of the assessment.
In March, Council received 260 new submissions from members of the public during a round of community consultation on the development application, taking the total number of submissions during the four exhibition periods past 1,200.
Key concerns raised in the submissions included impacts on fauna, flora, marine navigation and parking matters.
In particular, a number of detailed submissions were received raising concerns about the potential impact of the development on the habitat of the Beach Stone Curlew, a resident bird of Dowardee Island, of which only 13 known birds exist in New South Wales. Three of these birds reside adjacent to the marina.
"Given the precarious nature of the long term survival of the Beach Stone Curlew, combined with the relationship of the proposed development to this habitat, it was determined that an SIS is required," Port Stephens Council manager of development assessment and compliance Matt Brown said.
"Without an SIS, Council will not be in a position to recommend approval to the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP), which has the ultimate say on this application. The applicant has the choice to withdraw the development application while an SIS is prepared. However if they do not wish to withdraw, Council will proceed with a report to the JRPP."
Council has sent all submissions to the Director General as required by the EPA Act 1979, and will await advice from the Director General before finalising its report to the JRPP.
Cr Dingle said a staff member called him to inform him of the news.
"I had a call ... at 10.02am this morning to inform me that the council is issuing a recommendation to refuse the Soldier Point Marina DA on the basis that an SIS [species impact statement] has not been provided for the threatened species living in the area," he said.
Plans for the marina's expansion went back on exhibition for the fourth time in two years in January after hundreds of responses were received to the previous exhibition periods and long delays for further information.
Submitted by Clippers Anchorage, the amended development application still appears to make way for another 58 berths but also includes alterations to car parking.