76 - 76 A Crossmaglen Road, Bonville NSW 2450

Dear Coffs Council General Manager, Planning staff and Councilors,
I have serious concerns with the impact of this DA on wildlife movement, particularly koalas, along the eastern boundary between the E2 zones of the Burgess Creek tributaries. If you look at the larger landscape, this corridor is critical for koalas moving between the forests to the south including Bongil Bongil NP and the escarpment forests to the north and must be protected and maintained.
While its importance to the identified resident koala population is acknowledged in DA documents - both the SEE and BDAR, there is no visible Vegetation Management Plan, and given the current corridor which includes tall flooded gum and other native species will be divided into smaller fenced lots with no restriction on cats or dogs, long term survival and movement of wildlife including koala will be negatively impacted.
How this common area of crown land has been transferred to the Landholder and impacts on local access between Crossmaglen Road and Bakker Drive also needs to be investigated

I also have concerns with this DA. Wildlife corridors are more necessary than they have ever been and we must stop their destruction now or it will simply be too late. PLEASE, please reconsider allowing this proposal to move forward. We know there are koalas in this area, breeding koalas and their movement should not be impeded. I am also concerned as to how this crown land has been transferred and would ask you to investigate. Many thanks.

I object to this DA as I believe it will negatively impact on an important wildlife - koala corridor in an area where there is an identified breeding population.

I object to this DA as I believe it will negatively impact on an important wildlife - koala corridor in an area where there is an identified breeding population.

As a resident of Crossmaglen in which my family has been since first arriving in The Valley in the 1800’s we know this section as our wildlife corridor. We continually see koalas crossing in this area. Two weeks ago I spoke to council about how to go about sign posting this section as a koala passage as it has been busy with juvenile koalas crossing and is in a 60km zone. At the start of the week the clearing commenced. We are distraught over this as we were not aware this was going to take place and even more so by the farmer whose land it is as they would be aware of its importance and its use by our native wildlife in particular koalas. We say that saving the koala, preserving our environment is our main priority and the importance of healing the world however we continue in its destruction for money, for greed what is happening here? Please help us.

I strongly object to this DA. I live on Crossmaglen Road and was devastated when clearing of this habitat began at the beginning of this week. I have seen multiple koalas utilising this corridor over the last few years - 2 adult males, an adult female and a juvenile (this sighting was 29th December). I am a conservation detection dog trainer and handler and am happy to offer my services, free of charge, to search the area with my canine to prove the presence of koalas - this is a CRITICAL corridor for their movement and survival. I know that many of our community is opposed to the development of this beautiful valley! We DON’T WANT SUBDIVISIONS!

I would ask council to reject this DA.
Koalas can't survive without adequate, appropriate habitat.
This development removes the habitat vital for Koalas survival.
Why was Crown Land transferred to allow this development?
Please act to preserve our disappearing natural environment and precious wildlife.
Thank you.

To The Coffs Harbour General Manager and Planing staff , councillors.
I object to this DA for the following reasons.
This development will have a negative impact on wildlife and the native bush at a time when we all need to do more to preserve the natural environment. I am concerned about overdevelopment of the this beautiful area and losing its uniqueness foreever.
As part of the subdivision is a designated wildlife corridor for Koals moving from Bongil Bongil NP and state forests through to the northern escarpment forests, it needs to be kept intact.
It is also home to quite a number of flooded gums as well as other koala feed trees.
There needs to be a vegetation plan in place to preserve these valuable trees.
As part of the development is crown land,and a fire trail, it is public land so should not be given to a potential developer for a profit.

I certainly object to the DA. I live locally to this proposed development and feel strongly about the effect it will have on the wildlife in the area. It will certainly have a negative impact on the identified breeding corridor for the koalas. Too often these developments go ahead without the consideration of the surrounding communities. Please don't destroy another beautiful nature area.

I object to this DA as it impacts on a known koala corridor where breeding koalas have been recorded. The koala population in NSW is under enormous pressure from land clearing and if nothing is done the will be extinct by 2050. Please consider the consequences of this proposal and do not approve.

We strongly object to the DA. I live locally to this proposed development and feel strongly about the effect it will have on the wildlife in the area. It will certainly have a negative impact on the identified breeding corridor for the koalas. Too often these developments go ahead without the consideration of the surrounding communities. Please don't destroy another beautiful nature area. We also object to the the idea of blocking Burgess Creek during this project. Our property backs onto Burgess Creek and we have spent years cleaning and unblocking the creek to make it a good environment for the animals and bird life that drink from the creek. After several years of having no fish in the Creek after upstream contamination that floated down stream and killed hundreds of water life. The consequences of this will be forever.

I am submitting an objection to the development application Ref:0601/22DA on the basis that the area already has limited corridors that are available for wildlife movements and an aerial view clearly shows how critical this section is for access between 2 larger sections of corridor. If any actions are undertaken to clear, fence or in other ways change, especially the opportunity to introduce cats and dogs, and restrict the accessibility of the area it will have detrimental consequences for all wildlife, not only koalas.
Any activity detrimental to wildlife contrasts greatly with what is happening in the Northern rivers area of NSW where property owners are voluntarily turning over areas of their land in order to create wildlife corridors. There have been 157,000 trees planted in the last 3 years with a target of 500,000 by the end of 2025 in the northern rivers area from Grafton to the Queensland border and to proceed with development that further restricts the options for wildlife movement and reduces habitat is fundamentally opposite to the prevailing view within the community at this time.

I object to this clearing for the same reason that all the other comments on this page to it. Allowing essential Koala corridors (which this area is proven to be) to be cleared not just puts individuals using that area at the time of clearing at risk, it it jeopardises entire populations. Koala populations that have been isolated due to clearing are known to have higher disease rates due to their forced inbreeding as well as encourage higher road and dog related mortalities as males are forced to search for new mates by traversing long distances on the ground where they are most vulnerable. In my eyes this act is the equivalent of a person intentionally harming an individual koala and it should be treated accordingly.

Any development that requires the destruction of existing koala habitat should be rejected out of hand. The Bonville region has a very vibrant koala population.

The primary cause of crashing koala populations in NSW is habitat destruction. Koalas need wide corridors of natural forest to move freely around their territory. The developer is proposing to plant koala food trees to compensate for koala food trees destroyed during the development process. These trees will take years to mature and may not be in suitable places to ensure the on going survival of existing koala colonies.

I object to this development application 0601/22DA going ahead.

I am concerned about the effect that clearing of this land for subdivision & building will have on the koala population, as this appears to be a known koala habitat.

I am concerned regarding the new development on Crossmaglen road and the impact this will have on the existing Koala colonies. There are active Koala populations in and around this area and the destruction that is and is to be will have a negative impact on those habitats. These types of destruction are what are causing the decline in Koala populations around Australia. I object to any further development/destruction on Crossmaglen Road

I am a resident of Crossmaglen road, and I strongly object to this development. In the past few years I have seen on two occasions Koalas crossing, or right beside the road, in this exact area ( one time I stopped my car and had to herd one off the road as it was walking down the middle) It is obviously an active koala corridor for local animals linking two major bodies of habitat. If we are actually serious about protecting local populations of koalas we must not destroy these vital corridors. Thank you.

I also would object to this DA being approved. I would also reiterate the query of how this transfer of Crown Land to a developer even occurred??
I live near a part of Bongil Bongil and, after moving here over last 10 years, have been saddened at the lack of care seemingly involved in developments in the area - in parts right up to boundaries of National Park.
Koalas are a national icon, cause national and international conservation efforts and the world is watching how we protect and conserve in a local regional context as well as State level. We must maintain all koala corridors and habitat in this very important region.They have lost so much already.Thank you.

I object to the this DA being approved. The previous council approved this?? Wild to see a developer this size can waltz in claim crown land & encrouch on the koala
corridors / habbitat like its just another day at the office. As many have stated
above please review this DA before its too late....

I object to the this DA being approved. The Koalas have already lost so much last year / 2020 and we don't want more crown reserved land for wildlife disappearing... also don't like the fact Burgess Creek will be blocked just for this project. As many have stated above please review this DA.

I object to the DA approval for ref:0601/22DA. I am also a longterm resident in the area and have over the years seen habitat for our National Icon the Koala, not to mention other diverse species that require corridors to exist, disappearing.. I have known Koala covenants to also disappear (Repton) and now Crown Land it seems.
I can also remember the Koala carnage on the local roads as the New Highway was going through. So few corridors left for the passage of wildlife as we clear trees for Fire Breaks wider and wider. Not to mention the logging of Native Forest in nearby State Forests. And of course Private land clearing.
Please protect these vital corridors as the Koalas and local wildlife need these to exist.
Any trees 'planted in their place' will be of no benefit until years later, by which time they will be long gone, yet another Koala colony disappeared.
Thank you

I am a recent arrival to the area moving to Crossmaglen Road because of its wildlife and outstanding natural beauty.
The careless approval of this DA does not recognise the necessary balance between wildlife and its environment. At a time the koala population Australia wide is under threat from de-forestation and habitat loss this DA shows real contempt for our environment. As a retired science teacher I deplore this cynical obsession with revenue and your short sightedness. My favourite definition of "cynic" is someone who knows the price of everything AND THE VALUE OF NOTHING).
David Ellis
MEd BEd DipMus Ed Grad Cert Sci
FRAS

To Coffs Council General Manager, Planning staff and Councillors
I am a Bonville resident and object to the DA approval for ref:0601/22DA
I question the transfer of any public land to any developer based on the fact that it is 'unused'. The public land within this development is definitely used by countless species including koalas and is a recognised wildlife corridor threatened by subdivision into 14 fenced lots each of which may potentially contain cats and dogs, both known major threats to local wildlife.
The trees now contained within each block will not be protected, again potentially increasing the risk of habitat loss.
The developer may state that they will plant native vegetation to replace that which will be lost as compensatory habitat but I ask you what compensation will there be in the 20 or so intervening years until the trees are mature and what checks will council impose to ensure the long term sucess of these plantings? Any habitat destruction will adversly affect the current population of koalas which are already threatened by habitat fragmentation. Will there be any in the area after 20 years to repopulate?
Both Federal and State Governments and indeed Coffs Council have recognised the importance of habitat as the key to the survival of koalas. It is therefore vital that this corridor remain outside the development else the Coffs Council are adding to the death of the koala by one thousand cuts.
Thank you

I oppose the new development on Crossmaglen road due to the likely impact on Koala colonies.
There are active Koala populations in this area and this particular habitat fragment is essential and provides connectivity to Bongil Bongil NP.

I question the need to include this parcel of of crown land in the development as currently proposed.
It is obvious it provides an essential corridor for wildlife and in particular for the koala population.
Additionally it provides connectivity and amenity for the human population in this area.
The benefit to this community of maintaining the crown land corridor far out ways any one off short term profit to be made by the developer.
The long term health and well-being of our communities rests in our ability to live with and alongside the natural world.
As a young city Coffs Harbour has an opportunity to learn from previous mistakes and to create a human habitat envied by many.
In so doing we reap the benefits of a healthy well adjusted population the maintenance of our beautiful environment and wildlife along with the bonus everyone is looking for….the value of our assets is driven upward.
I ask CHCC to take this opportunity to set a precedent as we move forward by maintaining this crown land as a critical asset for wildlife and citizens into the future.

I object to this planning development application on the grounds that it may negatively impact on the koala habitat and in fact the whole Ecco system that this sensitive area is such an integral part of.
We are all part of the one system; that is the majestic natural system and we should tread carefully to ensure our actions enhance the whole, rather than threaten or weaken the whole or individual aspects that are within.

To Coffs Council General Manager, Planning staff and Councillors

I was horrified to see those majestic trees chopped down last week. I too oppose this development and agree with all the opinions expressed above but I would also like to know if this tree felling was in fact legal. Please confirm if this developer had full legal authority to remove all these trees. I look forward to your response regarding our concerns. Thankyou

As a resident of Crossmaglen I object strongly to this DA. I believe it will negatively impact on an important koala corridor in an area where there is an identified breeding population.
I am very concerned that the population of breeding koalas in that area will be threatened if the tall flooded gums and other native species are removed.
It not only impacts the koalas but all native wildlife that use that habitat.
I would like to see an investigation into how this crown land has been transferred.
I am concerned about overdevelopment of this beautiful area and losing its unique natural beauty forever .

I object to this development application, as I believe this is an important koala corridor where there is an identified breeding population.

I am a resident of Crossmaglen valley and I strongly object to this DA. While acknowledging that there are previous approvals for this particular development and site, it would seem that there are several variations that have been progressively increasing the scope of the development ‘by stealth’. The matter of transferring Crown land is of particular concern and should be investigated.
This proposal will undoubtedly have a negative effect on the existing koala population in this area. Currently available information confirms that our koala numbers are in decline, largely due to destruction of their habitat. Therefore, I suggest that we, as a community, have an obligation to support and maintain the koalas rather that add to their demise.

Dear Coffs Council General Manager, Planning staff and Councilors,
I would like to thank David Wood’s comment attached. I have the same concern and also added my concern. The bridle/ fire trail should remain crown land for public use.
“I have serious concerns with the impact of this DA on wildlife movement, particularly koalas, along the eastern boundary between the E2 zones of the Burgess Creek tributaries. If you look at the larger landscape, this corridor is critical for koalas moving between the forests to the south including Bongil Bongil NP and the escarpment forests to the north and must be protected and maintained.
While its importance to the identified resident koala population is acknowledged in DA documents - both the SEE and BDAR, there is no visible Vegetation Management Plan, and given the current corridor which includes tall flooded gum and other native species will be divided into smaller fenced lots with no restriction on cats or dogs, long term survival and movement of wildlife including koala will be negatively impacted.
How this common area of crown land has been transferred to the Landholder and impacts on local access between Crossmaglen Road and Bakker Drive also needs to be investigated.” The bridle trail and other horse riding areas should be maintained for all of us to enjoy. I and other locals have no parks or public places in Bonville and Crossmaglen and as rate payers I believe this needs to be addressed.

I object to this. This is on my road. Beautiful koala trees have already been bulldozed. This is a nature corridor.
However I doubt you will do anything as you allow for illegal developments any way.

I object to this development. Koalas are now an endangered species in NSW. Granting permission is not an option, no matter how many financial benefits have been promised. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-11/koalas-now-considered-endangered-in-nsw-queensland-and-act/100822024

I strongly object to this development application. The status of koalas has just changed from threatened to endangered and therefore all Koala habitat and corridors MUST be protected to ensure their survival.

I'm concerned that the crown land belonging to us, the people of the state, has been transferred to a property developer. I would like to know the details of this transaction to either rule out or expose corruption. Why was the public not given the option to stop the transfer of this land?

I object to this application based on its impact on a recognised wildlife corridor, and its impact on koalas, now listed as endangered in NSW. Alternatives that preserve the relevant vegetation and significantly reduce, if not eliminate, impact on wildlife, especially koalas, should be pursued instead. If there are none, this should not proceed at all.

We believe this amended 8/22 DA is an improvement in regard to the koala and other wildlife habitat and corridor connectivity within the property but also through the adjacent broader landscape and a more logical use of offset planting.
We expect that public access via a walking, bicycle, horse trail be maintained between Crossmaglen Road, Bakker Dr and North Bonville Rd.
Thankyou

Dear Council Staff,
While engineering drawings are provided showing details of the upgraded revised fire trail in this DA, there are no notes or details regarding the crossing of the middle (Burgess Creek) and impacts on protected vegetation including a VMP. Given our particular concern with establishment, enhancement and long term maintenance of a connecting wildlife corridor between Crossmaglen Road and North Bonville Road, we feel this is an important oversight.
We apologise for the lateness of this submission, but received no notification as per usual channels.
Regards Dave Wood