PROPOSED earthworks have brought Medowie sports club plans to a halt for the time being.
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Port Stephens Council had proposed to widen a section of Campvale Drain to address site flooding until Hunter Water stepped in.
“The application was withdrawn from the agenda to allow further liaison with Hunter Water Corporation and is expected to return to council for determination in the near future,” the council said, in a brief statement on Thursday.
Hunter Water only learned of plans to excavate the drain, within the sensitive Grahamstown Dam catchment, when the council agenda was released. The council proposed to widen a 50 metre section of Campvale Drain by 1.2 metres.
“The proposed Ferodale Sports Complex is located inside the gazetted boundary of the Grahamstown Dam Special Area,” Hunter Water acting CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“As the proposal is within the Special Area, Hunter Water requires information to assess the potential impact on water quality entering Grahamstown Dam.
“Unfortunately Hunter Water was not consulted regarding potential water quality impacts of the proposal.”
It is understood the council only removed the item for its meeting agenda, at the last minute, after numerous requests.
“After seeing the proposed DA on the Council website, Hunter Water wrote to Council requesting the opportunity to examine the impact of the Sports Complex on water quality,” Mr Bath said.
Tensions surfaced at the council meeting when councillors discussed a different development within the catchment. Hunter Water had cited the risk of contamination when it recommended against a 50-lot residential subdivision of a farm on the corner of Ferodale and Fairlands roads, Medowie.
The Department of Planning upheld those concerns at a Gateway Determination when it refused the plans. The mayor of Port Stephens, Cr Bruce MacKenzie, said Hunter Water executives had acted like “gestapos”.
“It’s an absolute joke,” he said.
Cr Ken Jordan sympothised with the applicant who could only get approval for a six-lot subdivision.
“I would have to question who is running the water board,” he said.
“It seems they won’t allow anything.”
Mr Bath said his team would continue to work with council through the Ferodale Sports Complex plans.
“We are currently working with Council to undertake the required assessment,” he said.
Plans for the facility include a clubhouse with commercial kitchen, cool room facilities and three bowling greens. The council will borrow $1.7 million from Fern Bay’s Section 94 funds to help finance it.