Annette Auri, Willunga, South Australia
The Onkaparinga council recently approved a high-density suburban development right next to a treasured natural resource: The Aldinga Conservation Park.
The council own website admits: "Many native plant and bird species inhabit the Aldinga Scrub conservation park. This is one of the last remnants of Adelaide's original coastal vegetation that once stretched northward to Outer Harbour." (<http://www.onkaparingacity.com/web/page?pg=384>)
Many chose to live here for the lifestyle. We have the fresh country air, the views and the panoramic beaches. Some of us are surf lifesavers, volunteers with the Country Fire Service or Landcare and members of the Friends of the Willunga Basin, Friends of the Aldinga Scrub, and the Southern Eco Alliance. We are a community-minded and environmentally aware group of people. Our council declares itself in support of biodiversity and sustainable development. As an example, the Aldinga Eco-Village is in the final stages of construction. It uses environmentally sustainable principles and employs passive solar design for houses. There is full treatment and reuse of both stormwater and sewage on site.
There is a strong contingent of people following an alternative lifestyle in the Aldinga/Willunga area, and the "deep green" brigade have fought, worked and lobbied for many years to keep our local ecosystem healthy and to repair damage already done to it by the clearing and drainage of the 1950s.
We are worried about the effect that 691 new homes and their attendant families, dogs, cats and cars will have on the already endangered scrub and its flora and fauna, some of which are on the critical list. The subsurface water and wetlands are already drying out and the development will only exacerbate this by covering up catchment area adjacent to the park.
If proper community consultation had been given we could have worked on the important issues together.
According to local Chas Martin, these issues include an appropriate buffer zone — at least 200 metres — between the development and the scrub, and the on-site treatment of stormwater, which is one of the concessions the Friends of the Willunga Basin had previously won from council. He said it was important that council not be allowed to renege on conditions it had been previously agreed would be placed upon development.
In the last 10 years, council has resisted repeated attempts by environmentalist groups to change the land's residential zoning.
The developer, Canberra Investments Corporation(CIC), has taken advantage of the currently high land values. While the company has met with Aboriginal groups and the Friends of the Aldinga Scrub, the meetings have been only token.
It appears that the profits of CIC have been given priority, that capitalists have rights, while residents do not and that the council, which is supposed to represent the residents, is doing all it can to aid the developers. The rights of native fauna are not even considered.
The original proposal included the closure of a road on the seaward side of the development. Any such closure requires the council to conduct community consultation, but the proposed closure was removed from the plan submitted for approval. Residents believe that it will be submitted separately at a later date.
Carol Shields of Southern Eco Alliance said the developers have made a few concessions over the buffer zone; it now stands at a minimum of 29 metres. CIC have also submitted an amended plan that will reduce the size of the reserve within the development near the scrub border, whilst increasing the reserve near the main road. This area was intended for on-site treatment of stormwater.
This will enable the building of more dwellings close to the scrub and will necessitate the treatment of stormwater off-site. This may involve paying council to do this treatment for them on adjoining SA Water land.
The influx of so many people into this area will also put increasing pressure on already strained infrastructure such as primary and high schools and health services. In mid April, in the Adelaide Advertiser, reported that local GPs were calling for an additional 50 doctors in the south because services are so stretched they cannot take on new patients.
The mainstream press has reported in an accusatory way that sthe protesters include people from outside the area. We welcome people from anywhere to support us in our efforts to save the Aldinga Scrub. This beautiful remnant of bushland belongs to all of the people.
Development does not have to take place at the expense of the environment and peoples' rights. Developers and councils could afford to do this in a sustainable way; satisfying all parties without endangering what is left of our natural bushland.
CIC claims the development will offer "Sunday everyday" and the City of Onkaparinga claims to be in support of sustainability and bio-diversity. Let's see some evidence of this beyond the billboards and glossy phrases.
[Annette Auri is a member of the Socialist Alliance.]
From Green Left Weekly, April 29, 2004.
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