Manyana Matters Environmental Association
The Manyana Matters Environmental Association Inc (MMEA) is a grassroots community group dedicated to the preservation, protection and enhancement of the natural, social and cultural environment of North Bendalong, Bendalong, Manyana, Cunjurong Point, Berringer, and the surrounding Conjola National Park.
Things you can do right now to help
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Join us
By becoming a member for $5 you help build our power and strengthen our cause.
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Email the pollies
Ask the NSW Government Ministers, Penny Sharpe (Environment) & Paul Scully (Planning) to use their powers to save the forest.
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Contribute to our fighting fund
Account Name: Manyana Matters
Commonwealth Bank BSB: 062 646
Account number: 10330188
Reference: DONATE [your name] -
Sign our petition
We’ve had over 120,000 people sign our petition on Change.org to save the Greater Glider. Consider adding your name today!
On the same day as releasing her decision, Minister Plibersek wrote to the NSW Minister for Planning, noting that the local Federal member Fiona Phillips regards this as an inappropriate development for Manyana, and pointing out that this is a historical development approval (it was approved by the NSW Minister for Planning in 2008).
We’ve requested meetings with Minister Sharpe, the NSW Minister for Environment and Paul Scully, Minister for Planning & Public Spaces to discuss the environmental and planning issues and to ask for their help.
Under the EPBC Act, Minister Plibersek must take into account community impact when making her decision. We see no evidence that the overwhelming opposition to this scheme has been accounted for. We have made it abundantly clear that any damage to this forest will have negative health and well-being consequences to many members of our community.
There are pages of conditions, but once you work through them, it's evident that they don't protect nature and they don't protect the community. The proponent is required to self-monitor but in effect, it will be up to the community to monitor compliance. And while there are penalties for non-compliance, will they just be seen as the cost of doing business?
You can find the documentation including all the conditions by going to: https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/all-notices/ by filtering for 2020/8704 and following the links.
All the original preliminary documentation is here: http://tinyurl.com/2382n6je if you would like to view it.
Scroll down for the backstory. Media enquiries: Jorj Lowrey +61 493 246 714 or email manyanamatters@outlook.com
The Manyana Special Conservation Reserve
Oct 2024 update - Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved, with conditions, the Ozy Homes (Manyana Coast Pty Ltd) housing scheme, planned for the 20Ha forest we've been trying to save since the Black Summer bushfires.
It's fair to say we're absolutely gutted that the decision wasn't outright refusal, affording protection of the forest and all the creatures that call it home (and so much joy for so many in this community of bushfire survivors).
We are working with our wonderful lawyers, the Environmental Defenders Office, who continue to be amazing.
The Littoral Rainforest on site has been formally acknowledged and Stage 3 removed as a result, reducing lot yield from 183 to 153. But Asset Protection Zones (APZ’s), stages 2 and 4 still push into this Critically Endangered Ecological Community (CEEC), which is completely unacceptable.
The withdrawal of Stage 3 results in significant modifications to the development, including the removal of an entry/exit, dead end streets, bushfire safety implications and more, so it is expected the proponent will need to submit a modification application with Shoalhaven City Council.
Inyadda Drive
There is currently a continuing battle in the Land & Environment Court between a developer and Shoalhaven Council over the Inyadda Drive land. Council refused the proposal based on environmental, planning, zoning and social issues.
The developer Heir Asquith Pty Ltd has recently submitted yet another amended Development Application*. The new proposal does not have as many lots for houses (although these could later be subdivided) but in our view retains all the environmental threats of the previous proposal that was rejected by Council, who remain opposed.
The opportunity for public comment was open until Wednesday 4th September, 2024.
Manyana Matters reviewed the amended plans and submitted their own detailed paper opposing the development which you can view here.
The Land & Environment Court hearing scheduled for October has been postponed until next year.
Please watch this space for updates. You can also sign up to our emails, and/or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/manyanamatters/
* To view the full documentation, you'll need to visit https://www3.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/masterviewUI/modules/ApplicationMaster/Default.aspx and enter Application Number SF10921 then scroll down looking for > Documents > Amended.
Support for our campaigns
We believe it’s time for federal, state and local governments to act on their responsibility to conserve this biodiversity hot spot and review these developments. And we’re not alone. In addition to overwhelming local community support, we’ve had many well known, powerful and influential friends add their voices.
Among them area famous actors, authors, surfers, artists, musicians, politicians of all persuasions, eminent scientists, peak environmental bodies, business and community leaders.
Our story has been covered by most news channels and even featured overseas.
The story so far
Manyana is a small village on the NSW South Coast that was ravaged by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20 and is plagued by “Zombie DA’s”.
Just weeks after the last flames had been extinguished, a developer was poised to clear one of the last remaining areas of unburnt forest in our area. The very same beautiful, mature forest our local firies had fought so bravely to save. 20Ha of lush, green habitat that was now harbouring any life that managed to escape the flames. A healthy forest that would be essential to the rejuvenation of the surrounding 11,060Ha Conjola National Park - 96% of which was burnt in the fires.
It was too much for a traumatised and grieving community to bear. It was time to stand up and say, “Enough’s enough.”
So, we – some of those firies among us – banded together to formalise the Manyana Matters Environmental Association (MMEA) and prepare ourselves for the long struggle to stop the destruction of our bushland. We believe our native animals deserve safe and secure homes too.
Zombie DAs
“Zombie DA”s are development approvals that lay sleeping for many years, waiting to come back to life. Legally, these ancient real estate schemes do not have to be assessed under current environmental law - a loophole we, along with many other similarly affected NSW communities, are on a mission to see changed.
Zombie DAs affecting our villages:
MANYANA SPECIAL CONSERVATION RESERVE. The 20.23Ha Ozy Homes 153 lot site (was previously 182) mentioned above, which we like to call the “Manyana Special Conservation Reserve” (the MSCR) aka Manyana Beach Estate. Approved 2008.
INYADDA. A 76.57Ha plot of land on Inyadda Drive that is almost entirely Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC’s) is also under threat. Developers Heir Asquith want to replace it with sprawling buildings, statistically holiday homes that will sit vacant for most of the year. No DA has ever been approved.
THE SPOT. An old-fashioned, poorly designed, oversized shopping centre approved in 2008 (corner of Inyadda & Curvers Drives). 13 west facing shops, a supermarket, 4 upstairs professional suites, 106 car parking spaces. 1.14Ha. Owned by the MSCR crowd.
A 42 lot zombie subdivision between the Southern border of Manyana and Cunjurong Point was also completed not long before the Black Summer bushfires. It obliterated 9.5Ha of unique coastal habitat. So our villages already know the devastating environmental impacts of an inappropriate, poorly planned zombie housing scheme!