PORT Stephens councillors will weigh up two opposing motions on the same patch of Salamander Bay foreshore at Tuesday night’s meeting.
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Notices of motion from mayor Ryan Palmer and East Ward councillor John Nell have proposed two courses of action for 109 Foreshore Drive at Salamander Bay: sell it and funnel the profits into Tomaree Sports Complex, or reclassify it to community land and retain ownership of the plot.
Reports to councillors note the site, opposite Mambo Wetlands, was first surveyed in 1944 when the thoroughfare formerly known as Soldiers Point Road was dedicated to the public.
The council’s ownership of the 557-square-metre plot, created along with 55 other lots in a subdivision, dates back to November 1977.
“The ownership of this particular parcel of land has been in council hands for circa 41 years,” the report states.
“When the Local Government Act was enacted in 1993, the land was classified as operational and has remained that way for the past 25 years.”
Cr Palmer defended the plan against suggestions it would block access to the waterfront if the site was developed, citing the Joe Redman Reserve eight doors up.
“The facts are we are selling R2 zoned land, we’re not selling the reserve, the reserve is remaining,” Cr Palmer said.
“The proceeds are going to a great cause.”
But while mayor Ryan Palmer is putting forward a proposal for the site to go to market to help with the $65 million sports complex project, Cr John Nell asks in the next agenda item that Port Stephens Council general manager Wayne Wallis reclassify the land for community use.
Legislation dictates that the council can only sell operational land.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the proposal to sell the site risked repeating history with the neighbouring Mambo Wetlands.
A separate report to Tuesday’s meeting recommends councillors refuse a proposed dwelling on 182 Port Stephens Drive, a site sold in 2016 that forms part of the wetland because of its impacts on koala habitat.
The council has lobbied the state government to buy back that site.
Ms Washington said residents report the Foreshore Drive land offers an access route for koalas between the reserve opposite and the shores of Port Stephens.
“After speaking with local residents, I can’t support this sale,” Ms Washington said.
“The council’s short-sighted plans to flog off this land are really disappointing, and the argument that it needs to be sold to pay for sporting facilities is bizarre.”
Councillors will consider the fate of the land at Tuesday night’s meeting.