Hi Birders,
I thought people should be aware that there is a development proposed
on one of the most well-loved birding sites in the Capertee Valley
(NSW). I have just learnt that we only have until THIS MONDAY (28TH
SEPT) to object.
Many of you will be familiar with the lovely patch of woodland behind
the old church and cemetery at Glen Alice. This is one of the few
publicly accessible sites in the valley where it is possible to
wander through a patch of good quality Box-Gum woodland. Local
businesswoman Lyn Richardson has lodged an application with Lithgow
Council to build a real estate office between the church and the
cemetery. This application was actually lodged back in May but the
news has been slow to filter through to the wider community, and I
have only recently managed to find out some details. Due to
objections from concerned locals the matter is now going to be dealt
with at a Council meeting. If you visit this site and feel strongly
about it passing into private ownership, please make an objection to
Lithgow Council (details below).
The land is currently owned by the Uniting Church and has been freely
visited for many years by birdwatchers and others, and is part of an
official Regent Honeyeater breeding survey site. The following
background to the change in land tenure is as I understand it from
several sources. The Glen Alice church closed fairly recently due to
lack of patronage, and the two blocks that belong to the Uniting
Church (Lots 40 - which has the church on it - and 41 adjacent) were
then offered to the Glen Alice Community Association for $1. The
association were undecided about the cost of upkeep for the old
church, and time went by with no decision. Lyn (Secretary of the
association) offered to personally buy Lot 41 from the Uniting Church
for an undisclosed sum (this block was designated historically for
the Manse), so that the proceeds could go towards upkeep of the old
church. The Glen Alice association approved of this action, and the
DA to build the real estate office on Lot 41 was put to Lithgow
Council with very little publicity. Lyn states that her purchase of
Lot 41 is subject to this DA being approved.
I personally feel that this is an inappropriate development, a) on an
environmentally sensitive site, b) on an historic site, and c) on one
of the few public sites that birdwatchers have access to in the
valley.
The developer has stated that access for birdwatchers to the creek
will not be affected. This may be so, but the following points are
worth considering.
* The block (Lot 41) to be purchased is over 2000 square metres and
it extends part-way towards the creek encompassing some of the
woodland area. Currently if you visit the site you'll see pegs
marking the corners of the block, approximately halfway down from the
road towards the creek. This woodland is "White Box Yellow Box
Blakely's Red Gum Woodland" which is an Endangered Ecological
Community (EEC) in NSW while its National conservation status is
Critically Endangered.
* Threatened birds occurring on this site include Regent Honeyeater,
Swift Parrot, Barking Owl, Little Lorikeet, Brown Treecreeper,
Black-chinned Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler and
Diamond Firetail. It is also a regular breeding site for a number of
these species.
* The DA states that the developer intends "to create lawn and
landscape and improve around the building and improve the
surroundings of the church also". Such modifications would have a
direct impact on the EEC and its value as habitat for a range of
woodland birds found at the site. Creation of lawn and landscaping
may also facilitate the spread of weeds and the colonisation of feral
birds such as Common Myna into this valuable woodland remnant.
This is currently a quiet, picturesque spot where it's possible to
pull off the road, park under the shade of native trees and watch
birds while picnicking, wandering easily through the native woodland
or exploring the historic church and cemetery. A commercial real
estate office with a large advertising sign along the gable seems an
absurd addition in such a place, yet it may happen.
I believe that a more suitable site for a real estate office should
be chosen, and the whole site (lots 40, 41, cemetery, paper roads and
crown land) should be managed as an environmental and historic
reserve.
If you wish to object to the proposal, please mark your letter "DA
025/09" and write to the General Manager, Lithgow City Council, PO
Box 19, Lithgow 2790.
The email address is:
Please also send copies to the Lithgow Councillors at the following addresses:
Thanks,
Carol
Carol Probets
Capertee Valley/Blue Mountains NSW
Feel free to pass this information on to others who might be interested.
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