Mambo Wetlands still needs your urgent help to protect it into the future
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GOOD NEWS 🛑 Keep up the pressure! It works! 👏🏼
There’s more to do as the buffer is not yet protected! Be sure to click to see our understanding of the latest position and what’s needed for the future.
After the meeting Thursday 9 July with the Mayor, East Ward Councillors, Council officer, Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group (MWWCG) and EcoNetwork, MWWCG summarised that:
Buffer
Council confirmed that no remaining buffer zones will be built on, including near the Tomaree Library and to the north (where council has asked for EOI) Council acknowledge the role of the buffer zone as a wildlife corridor. The buffer zone contains Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs) and vital koala corridors feeding directly into the wetlands Council committed to look at protecting the remaining Mambo Wetlands with reclassification to C2, Environmental Conservation – though that was not enunciated in the Mayor’s July 9 Facebook statement. This protection is critical to safeguard Mambo Wetlands for future generations, so this battle to protect the wetlands does not reoccur. A change in Councillors or staff can quickly see the agreement not to build cast aside if not protected via rezoning.
Housing The Mayor emphasised the pressing need for housing development
– Environmental groups cannot solve Council’s housing problems and it is not our role to do so. Our role is to defend the environment.
– The “housing crisis” can be said to be neglect over many years and many levels of government in response to housing needs, and tax incentives that encouraged the building of wealth through housing.
– The community made many suggestions for increased housing in feedback to Council including * greater control over holiday accommodation such as Airbnb’s * rate incentives to decrease the number of vacant houses around the LGA * our Forums provided Council with plans for shop top housing that has been achieved in many other locations and could be achieved here with meaningful discussions with Charter Hall or other shopping centre owners.
Bigger picture Council acknowledges that the best way forward is to shelve the current Place Plan for Salamander Bay and take a fresh approach. After much consultation the Town Centre remains a vague concept dominated by car parks. We (MWWCG) & EcoNetwork would like to see Council prepare a new Place Strategy for the Salamander Bay Town Centre
– supported by a detailed Business Case and Development Framework
– prepared in accordance with contemporary NSW best-practice strategic planning principles.
Together, these documents would
– establish a clear community vision, objectively assess the costs, benefits and strategic justification for any future land transactions, and define the planning, environmental, urban design and public domain outcomes expected of future development
– would provide a transparent, evidence-based decision-making process that gives the community confidence, provides certainty for future developers, and ensures decisions regarding Council-owned land are driven by long-term public benefit rather than individual development opportunities. Council noted the importance of supporting and actively working towards a designation of Mambo Wetlands as an Aboriginal Place (something they had committed to achieve in 2025), and for Ramsar classification as a wetland of international significance.
How you can help!! 
Attend the 28 July Council meeting at Tomaree Sports Centre to show your support for the call to rezone the buffer to protect it for future generations Attend the 25 August Council meeting in Raymond Terrace when the General Manager will deliver a report on developments near Mambo Wetlands.
THANK YOU for being a wonderful community 🌱🐨🐸
THANK YOU to the 1800+ people who have already signed the petition to help SAVE Mambo’s remaining buffer zone. This eclipses the 1200 people Council consulted in the development process.
AND A BIG THANK YOU to all the businesses who helped collect the petitions including: Albert’s Friendly Grocer Salamander Bay, Corlette Store, Anna Bay Post Office, Nelson Bay Health Foods, Champagne Colours on Salamander Way, Readers Retreat, Cafe KIN, Pelvic Form Physio and Salamander Child Care Centre. Readers Retreat will accept any petitions still outstanding or contact koalawetlands@hotmail.com
Your signed petition is already making a difference and will be used to appeal to our Councillors for a better deal for ALL of the Mambo Wetlands buffer zone.
Thanks everyone for your continued support.
The work to save ALL the Mambo Wetlands buffer zone doesn’t stop there
See more updates on Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group Facebook page
“We can’t speak up for ourselves – we need your urgent help“
What can you do to save ALL of our wetland buffer zone?
Read the issues below and choose those relevant to you
The proposed Salamander Town Centre development WILL detrimentally impact the Mambo Wetlands
Port Stephens Council plans to sell approximately 4 hectares of land in what is left of the ecologically sensitive Mambo Wetlands Reserve surrounding Salamander Bay shopping centre to achieve housing and medical facility targets – at the expense of an important ecosystem. This does not match the Council’s public position supporting wetland protection.
UPDATE: 9 July
👏👏👏Council has AGREED not to build on the Buffer.
❕✅📣 WE CALL ON COUNCIL to confirm they will PROTECT the buffer for the FUTURE & rezone it to C2 Environmental Conservation.
70% of the Mambo Wetlands buffer zone is already DESTROYED
Why this proposed development MUST be stopped NOW
- It is on critical WETLANDS BUFFER ZONE – an important part of the Mambo Wetlands ecosystem
- It is LEGALLY PROTECTED – Buffer zones are now legally protected (SEPP 2021, since 2016), and while most of Mambo’s buffer was built-out before protection, Council is trying to overcome this legal protection
- Council plans to build on about 70% of the remaining remnant buffer zone, leaving LESS THAN 10% of the original buffer
- It is on FLOOD-PRONE land and is gazetted as BUSHFIRE Protection Zone – building on this land will put people and the environment in danger
- It is significant HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED KOALAS and a recognised koala corridor, designated for protection under the Council’s Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM)
- It is critical PROTECTION area for Mambo Wetlands Reserve – protecting the internal wetlands from human impact by slowing runoff, trapping sediments and removing contaminants
- It supports significant BIODIVERSITY including numerous vulnerable mammals, amphibians and bird species including Powerful Owl, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Wallum Froglet and Glossy Black Cockatoo to name a few
- It is culturally, spiritually and ceremonially SIGNIFICANT for our First Nations people
- Council’s consultation has been INADEQUATE and MISLEADING depicting the Salamander Town Centre Place Plan as primarily about the shopping centre, not highlighting the intent to sell the surrounding vegetation
- The buffer zone land is at least 30 year-old recovering swamp forest, not “poor quality and low grade” which is how the Council is justifying the use of this land
- Selling off our wetland is UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING as meeting drainage and fire requirements is very costly
- Council advises “All future development applications over the land will require detailed environmental and engineering studies and will undergo a thorough and robust assessment process.” We believe an ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS TOO LATE once the land is SOLD. Is there a conflict of interest in Council being the vendor and the assessor?
Selling irreplaceable valuable environmental land for today’s economic gain, diminishes our critical natural capital for our children and FUTURE GENERATIONS
Council is the MANAGER of the Wetlands on behalf of
the Port Stephens community.
ARE THEY CARING FOR IT AS THEY SHOULD FOR US?
“We won’t have any heritage left. We all need nature to live. MONEY is not the most important thing here.” – Carol Ridgeway-Bissett, Worimi Elder and long-term Mambo wetlands advocate.
“Most of the Mambo wetlands is already classed as vulnerable. Mambo needs our HELP, not more pressure.” – Dr Tom Headley, senior wetlands management specialist.
“Wetlands are hellishly important and they are rare – we MUST protect this iconic biodiversity.” – Sue Higginson MLC, Greens MP – Planning and Environment.
Save the date – 28 July Council Meeting
We are calling on the Council to acknowledge the widespread community OUTRAGE and reconsider their decision at the 28 July Council Meeting.
