19 September, 2014
Peak environment group seeks meetings with Manly MP Mike Baird over destructive urban land clearing law
NSW Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski is seeking urgent meetings with Manly MP Mike Baird to discuss the immediate revocation of the environmentally destructive 10/50 urban land-clearing law that has caused the loss of many trees on the Peninsular since it was introduced last month.
Ms Smolski said many residents on the Peninsula were alarmed by the loss of landmark trees and appalled by the potentially widespread destruction the rule could cause throughout the district.
“We have examined the maps and found that if everybody exercised their rights under this rule, there could be the loss of a huge number of trees and a large part of the tree canopy in some places,” Ms Smolski said. “This would radically change the character of entire suburbs in this area.
“Several conservation and community groups – including the Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee – are keen to raise awareness of this issue and persuade the government to revoke this destructive law, but the government simply isn’t listening.
“That’s why we have written to Premier Mike Baird seeking an urgent meeting to discuss this flawed policy and to seek his assurance that he will work to remove it from the statute books.”
Ms Smolski was in Balgowlah Heights on Friday where she inspected areas affected by the new rule with representatives of the Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee and other locals.
“NCC supports well-researched bushfire management that minimises the risk to life, property and wildlife,” she said. “In fact, we have worked with fire authorities for more than 30 years developing policies and practices that achieve that.
“The 10/50 rule, however, is a one-size-fits-all approach that could destroy large areas of bush and wildlife habitat, and give people a false sense of security that they are now safe from bushfires.
“There was a very good system in place that allowed residents to have their bushfire risk assessed by professionals from the Rural Fire Service – it is difficult to understand why the Baird government has undermined that.”
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Forests and wildlife
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