The North Lismore Plateau proposed 742 lot development has been embroiled in controversy since it was first proposed. It has been in and out of court more than Chopper Reid.

Locally, you have a lot of people PRO the development of the North Lismore Plateau, especially now since the February 28 megaflood exacerbated the local housing crisis and a lot AGAINST the development due to significant cultural heritage on the site commonly known as the 'sleeping lizard'.

This is separate to the landmark decision by Lismore City Council to hand back council-owned 37 hectares to the traditional owners last year.

In the latest instalment, local media received a letter from well-known local activist Al Oshlack which is printed below.

Dear Local news outlets,

Attached is the Lismore City Council assessment on the controversial proposed 750 plus 2 super lots development on the Nth Lismore Plateau to the Northern Rivers Planning Panel,

The NLP development, proposed by a coalition of landowners, is the single biggest DA in Lismore since the subdivision of Goonellabah.

The Council assessment report rejects outright that future development on the plateau could be either environmentally or financially sustainable.

Council raised serious grounds which campaigners have been representing for years such as biodiversity, flooding and cultural heritage not to say the 10,000 plus car movements per day predicted for Dunoon Road.

The Council has also submitted to the NRPP that there is no infrastructure support for the development,

Mickey Ryan who steadfastly opposed over the last 10 years, Council's support for the development, should be recognised for his courageous foresight to shoulder, not only protection of his Wiyabal cultural identity but relieving our community of a potential multi-million dollar blackhole debt.

Yours 

Al Oshlack

PS There is no social housing component in the DA

Parts of the development on the Dunoon Road flood plain was inundated in the 2022 Feb/March

The Northern Region Planning Panel is the consent authority in the North Lismore Plateau Development and they are holding a public meeting next Thursday, December 15 at 4pm via video conference call.

Any resident can join the call to watch proceedings or to speak at the proceedings before a decision is made. If you wish to address the panel or listen to this meeting, you must register by contacting the Planning Panels Secretariat before 4pm Tuesday, 13 December 2022 on 02 8217 2060 or via email to enquiry@planningpanels.nsw.gov.au.  

On registration, you will be provided a link to enable you to join the public videoconference. You can choose to use a telephone (audio only) instead, in which case you will be given a phone number and code.  

The Panel is required to make an audio record of the meeting and make the recording publicly available on the Planning Panels website. You should be aware that this may include your personal information if you are presenting to the Panel. 

The Panel will aim to publish its decision on the Planning Panels website within 7 days of the meeting. 

The proposed NLP development is to undertake staged subdivision comprising 742 residential lots, 2 neighbourhood business lots, 1 residue lot (future residential), 14 public reserve lots and associated infrastructure, 45 new roads, road widening and road closures, bulk earthworks, essential services (water, sewer, power & telecommunications), stormwater management facilities, landscaping and environmental rehabilitation.

The proposal is classified as nominated integrated development and threatened species development. The development is also integrated development in accordance with s4.46 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Approval from NSW Natural Resource Access Regulator is required in accordance with Water Management Act 2000, approval from NSW Roads and Maritime Service in accordance with Roads Act 1993 and approval from NSW Rural Fire Service in accordance with Rural Fires Act 1997.

The full Assessment Reports can be read on the NSW Government Northern Regional Planning Panel website.