Papers & submissions
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Progress of the Nelson Bay Town Centre & Foreshore
ECONETWORK SUBMISSION Discussion Paper: Progress of the Nelson Bay Town Centre & Foreshore Strategy. March 2017. EcoNetwork-Port Stephens Inc. welcomes the Discussion Paper as a step forward following four years of unfortunate delay in implementing the Council’s April 2012 decision on Clause 4.6 - Variation to Development Standards, which we also welcomed at that time. The following is an EcoNetwork advisory response to the Discussion Paper: For an aesthetically appealing, functional & sustainable town Nelson Bay is unique in that ...
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Offshore finfish farming an ‘unacceptable risk’ to marine environment and ‘out of character’ with Providence Bay
Nigel Dique authored this submission on behalf of EcoNetwork opposing an application to modify the consents approving finfish aquaculture for Pisces Aquaculture Holding Pty Ltd and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) in Providence Bay. The submission was made 31 March 2016 to Joanna Bakopanos, Independent Assessments, Department of Planning and the Environment Planning Services. Dear Joanna, EcoNetwork Port Stephens is a grassroots network of community groups and eco-businesses addressing local environmental and associated planning issues ...
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Proposed NSW coastal protection laws allow too much council discretion and insufficient legislative protections
Nigel Dique made this submission on behalf of EcoNetwork to the Office of Environment and Heritage on 29 February 2016 supporting the objectives of the proposed changes NSW coastal protection laws, but objecting to lack of enforceability and of legislative protections for sensitive coastal environments. EcoNetwork-Port Stephens is a grassroots network of 25 affiliated community groups and eco-businesses addressing local environmental and associated planning issues for the protection and conservation of our unique environmental assets. We ...
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Cabbage Tree Road sand quarry application opposed on planning and environmental grounds
Darrell Dawson made this submission on behalf of EcoNetwork opposing the Cabbage Tree Road sand quarry application (No: SSD 6125) to the Director of Resource Assessments, Department of Planning and Environment, on 12 February 2016. EcoNetwork-Port Stephens is a grassroots community-focused network advocating scientifically informed environmental legislation including state and local regulation for accountable transparent DA processing for improved and sustainable outcomes. Our interest in this DA, associated and other due process is non-pecuniary; we do not ...
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Opposition to proposed merger of Newcastle and Port Stephens Councils
Dr Bruce Pease made this submission on behalf of EcoNetwork-Port Stephens to the Salamander Bay Public Inquiry on 4 February, 2016 EcoNetwork Port Stephens is a grassroots network of community groups and eco-businesses addressing local environmental and associated planning issues for the protection and conservation of our unique environmental assets. We are not an advocate for the current Port Stephens Council. We advocate local community action to protect the unique environmental assets of Port Stephens. This can ...
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Proposed rezoning of two sites within Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park: totally unacceptable
Dr Bruce Pease made this submission on 11 November 2015 to the NSW Government arguing against proposals to permanently remove sanctuary zone protection for parts of Celito and Fiona Beaches within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park (PSGLMP). He made the submission in his capacity as representative (executive member) of EcoNetwork-Port Stephens and the Marine Parks Association on the PSGLMP Advisory Committee. As a retired Fisheries Scientist with over 20 years experience conducting fisheries research within the ...
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Council rezoning of Boomerang Park heritage-listed parkland challenged
EcoNetwork made this submission to the Hon. Mark Speakman MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage on 30 October 2015 regarding Lot 1 – DP1018979, Boomerang Park, Raymond Terrace. EcoNetwork Port Stephens is a grassroots community-focused natural heritage and sustainable planning network of 25 community associations and eco-businesses with 22 years of activity in the Port Stephens Local Government Area. In this activity, we have campaigned to defend national and marine parks, public parklands and recreational reserves against ...
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Anna Bay tourist facility application: clarification of environmental provisions sought
EcoNetwork - Port Stephens made this submission to the Manager, Industry Assessments, Planning Services of Planning and Environment on 28 July 2015. We are aware of the failed 2005 Development Application for the same site and acknowledge this current DA as an improvement on the refused consent of 2005/6. The following comprise our brief assessment of this current project: We support: a) The application of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles and criteria in relation to... b) Onsite solar energy generation c) ...
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Submission opposing Port Stephens Council Tree Preservation Order amendment
EcoNetwork prepared this submission on 25 July 2015 in response to an amendment by Port Stephens Council to the Tree Preservation Order Development Control Plan 2013: Tree Management. We oppose the amendment arising from the Mayoral Minute, Ordinary Council 12th May 2015, that Council: “provide a moratorium on the need to obtain pre-approval for the removal of trees or vegetation covered by Council’s tree preservation requirements where there is a risk to human life or property for ...
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Joint submission against Newcastle coal Terminal 4 development application
Nigel Waters prepared this submission on behalf of Port Stephens Greens and EcoNetwork - Port Stephens for presentation to the Planning Assessment Commission public meeting 13 July 2015 against the Port Waratah Coal Services Terminal 4 (T4) development application. I pay my respects to the elders past and present of the Awabakal and Worimi people, the traditional owners of the land in this area. I appreciate the opportunity to address the PAC today, and stand with ...