The Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group said they will continue to fight to have a parcel of land in Salamander Bay long used as a park and access point to the water remain as community land as the matter draws nearer to debate in the council chamber.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The conservation group, which stood shoulder to shoulder with Port Stephens Council in a fight to save wetland in Port Stephens Drive sold to a developer reclassified as community land, is now going toe to toe with the council to have the park at 109 Foreshore Drive permanently reclassified for community use.
"Historically, this has always been used as a park. There's park signs, facilities, a bench and even a drain here. It's never had anything else on it," conservation group president Irene Jones said.
"It is always being used by dog owners, walkers, families, and people wanting to get to the water. It's safer for people to access the water using the park because there's a carpark, a buffer from the main road. We've seen koalas in the trees in this park. It makes sense to permanently classify this land as a park and not sell it off for development."
The push to have the land rezoned came after Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer proposed to sell it in May 2018 to fund the redevelopment of Tomaree Sports Complex. Following community backlash, he formally withdrew the proposal in May 2018.
To protect the park from any future attempts to sell it, east ward councillor John Nell lodged a notice of motion to have the land, which is zoned R2, reclassified for community use in June 2018.
The notice of motion did not gain the support it needed to pass. Instead, it was deferred for a year to give the council time to investigate how the sports complex upgrade might otherwise be started if not from the lot sale.
The matter was deferred again in 2019 for further investigation and pushed back on the 2020 agenda with the cancellation of a number of meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Cr Nell said his notice of motion to have the land reclassified was due to be raised again at one of the two August meetings.
"This is still in the front of my mind," he said. "The land is unsuitable for potential development. After seeing what has happened to waterfront houses in Wamberal [Central Coast], we should take note and not add to the problem of building on the shoreline here in Port Stephens."
Conservation group member Jenny Warman said if the lot was ever developed it would "destroy an iconic part of Salamander Bay".
"We fought to save the land right across the road. It would be a complete contradiction to sell this land, which is used by many."
RELATED READING: Opinion | 109 Foreshore Drive has value beyond mere dollars
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
