(Photo credit: Brett Menzen)
Halloran Trust/Sealark seeks to clear 40 ha of coastal forest on the outskirts of Callala to build a 380-lot subdivision. Like the Halloran Trust proposed subdivision at Culburra, this proposed subdivision at Callala will destroy vital habitat of endangered Greater Gliders and Gang-gang Cockatoos, as well as the Bauer’s Midge Orchid, vulnerable Yellow-bellied Gliders, Eastern Pygmy-possums, Glossy-black Cockatoos, and Grey-headed Flying-foxes. Despite huge community opposition, despite the development plans being contrary to Shoalhaven regional strategy, and despite the fact that census data shows building housing on the outskirts of coastal villages will not solve the housing crisis but instead fuel the holiday home market ... the developer pushes ahead.
In June 2023, Shoalhaven City Council withdrew its biodiversity certification application for the Callala development when it came to light that an important report by accredited Biodiversity Offset Scheme assessors, which identified serious deficiencies in the bio-cert application due to incomplete surveys and obsolete methodology, had not been shared with elected Councillors.
Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council commends the decision by Shoalhaven City Council to withdraw its biodiversity certification application for Sealark’s proposed Callala development. We remain disgusted that the planning proposal for this development was ever allowed to proceed. Our objection, along with over 1000 others, was ignored, as was the cultural and ecological value of this land - which should be priceless.
We are not against appropriate development of appropriate sites. We are, of course, concerned about the housing crisis in the Shoalhaven, but utterly reject the premise that this development will address it. We are a member-driven, community-controlled organisation and we know the well-being of our people is intrinsically embedded in the ecological health of Country.
Council’s action may not be enough to stop what is occurring here, but we are heartened that our elected representatives have heard and are responding to community views. Forcing new environmental assessments at least means the ecological impact of the Black Summer bushfires will be taken into account. Even before the fires, we have witnessed the degeneration of our land and seascapes just in this current generation. A flawed offset scheme and farcical plans to relocate flora and fauna can not mitigate the planned losses. We are sadly used to Aboriginal cultural heritage being viewed as movable - that inconveniently located artefacts can just be relocated as though this wouldn’t destroy the cultural landscape. To hear the same logic being applied to hollow bearing trees and endangered gliders is also as offensive.
Ecological values are our cultural values, and we will never shy away from our cultural obligation and legislative mandate to protect Country. Whether it is this developer or any
others, we urge land custodians to consider their moral obligations and the holistic and long-term impact of their actions.
As in this case with this land, some land is so sensitive, so valuable, that it actually should be offered up as the offset for other development - not developed itself.
Download:
Jerrinja JLALC positioning statement, 13 June 2023
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Video courtesy of Callala Matters.
