Kings Hill development proposal ticks another box

The councillors agreed at the October 12 meeting to a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) which obliges the developer to make a $3 million contribution over 40 years to fund the ongoing management of the land. [The $3 million is an addition to a $3.5 million fee in biodiversity works, including fencing and weeding, agreed to be the developer.]

However, there was not full agreement by councillors on the figure and the council tabled two submissions expressing concern the development posed a risk to the koala habitat in the area.

Kings Hill Development proposes to build 1,900 residential lots in stage one of the subdivision along the Pacific Highway and Six Mile Road north of Raymond Terrace.

"The application seeks consent to carry out stage 1 subdivision works for site preparation and vegetation clearing," the council report stated. "The terms of the VPA includes the rehabilitation of approximately 231 hectares of conservation land at Kings Hill by the developer prior to being transferred to council ownership."

During the exhibition period council received submissions from the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, which was supportive of the agreement, Port Stephens Greens and Koala Koalition EcoNetwork Port Stephens (KKEPS).

The Greens requested that the VPA not be signed until the proposed concept development application had been approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP), who will make the final determination on the development..

The submission from KKEPS referred to the risk of koala habitat in the Kings Hill area. "Port Stephens Council and the state government must realise that the destruction of koala habitat is inconsistent with saving koalas in the wild and increases the risk of koalas being extinct in NSW," a spokesperson said.

"Consideration should be given to the need for koalas to be able to get to the eastern side of the highway ... a wide vegetated overpass would be an excellent progress towards facilitating this connectivity."

An attempt by Cr Giacomo Arnott to increase the $3 million figure to $4 million was rejected. He received initial support from Cr John Nell but was voted down by the remaining councillors.

Cr Arnott, who referred to the land as "one of the last remaining koala habitats in Port Stephens", said he was concerned about increasing ongoing costs of maintaining the land. "Council is in a position of bargaining power and [this is] a chance to do better for our ratepayers and for the council."

But Cr Chris Doohan warned against any increase, saying there was a good chance the request could "blow up in our faces" and have the developers walk away. "This is a figure that has been discussed, calculated and agreed upon by the developer and the council."

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