Raymond Terrace: Kings Hill development delayed for koala review

Representatives for the DA proponents, who have the support of Port Stephens Council, aim to develop a 3000-lot housing estate spread across 270 hectares of bushland along Pacific Highway and Six Mile Road north of Raymond Terrace.

They say that detailed and comprehensive investigations by various experts over an 18-year period had ensured a conservation initiative that protects and manages important areas of habitat within the site for the koala to sustain its local population.

The decision to refer the development to the scientists has been welcomed by Koala Koalition EcoNetwork Port Stephens (KKEPS), formed earlier this year to campaign for habitat protection across Port Stephens.

Convenor Carmel Northwood said that the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel's decision to apply the 'precautionary principle' to ensure plans would be assessed against the most recent information and scientific evidence about the potential threat the proposed development posed to the shrinking koala population was admirable.

"While the concept plan shows a large area set aside for 'environmental conservation', it relies on an unproven 'enrichment strategy' to replace good quality wildlife habitat, which will disappear under concrete," Ms Northwood said.

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In January 2021, the panel had deferred a decision on the DA in order to gather more information.

The comprehensive documentation, briefings, expert advice, peer reviews and detailed legal advice accrued since then has not alleviated the panel's concerns, and it said last month that the proposed development is "likely to significantly affect threatened species, populations, or ecological community or its habitat" at Kings Hill.

"Local groups including EcoNetwork Port Stephens have been keeping a watch on the Kings Hill development plans for over a decade. At a public meeting in December 2020, five local groups told the panel about the importance of the Kings Hill koala population and of concerns over the potential loss of koala habitat if the concept plan was approved.

"At the recent panel hearing on October 20, KKEPS and other environmental groups, challenged the opinion of the applicant developer and of the council that the development poses no threat to native wildlife. They cast doubt on some of the information being used to support the application, and this was supported by independent consultants engaged by the panel.

"The plans to clear the development site in stages, in the hope that koalas will move to the enriched conservation areas, will likely result in chronic stress for the koalas which can impact their disease resistance, fertility and breeding success."

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The Kings Hill koalas are actively breeding and have allelic rich genes, according to KKEPS.

"Koala populations in the eastern peninsulas of Port Stephens have been declining in numbers due to isolation, vehicle strike and disease. With increased connectivity and protection, the Kings Hill koalas could potentially strengthen other koala populations in Port Stephens."

The Federal Government is considering a change in the status of east coast koalas from 'vulnerable' to 'endangered'.

To voice your opinion, go to action.hsi.org.au/page/94104/action/1.

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