How can we allow this to continue (“Land clearing threatens wildlife”, February 6)? It’s an established fact that rampant land clearing is decimating native wildlife. In this case, the endangered greater glider will face certain extinction, and for what? More urban spread in Jervis Bay and to top it off, facilities for two wealthy educational institutions, Scots College and the University of Sydney. Really?

Are our native animals and plants of such little concern that we’ll bulldoze already vulnerable bushland to create more houses, against the wishes of the locals? Surely, we should step away from this and say no to the developers and to the wealthy educational institutions. Surely the preservation of our wildlife and our bushland is paramount. 

Stuart Laurence, Cammeray

The connection between developers and private interests shouldn’t surprise us, and yet, it does. We know how important coastal habitat, waterways and natural habitat are, yet we continue to destroy them. We also know the claim that 10 per cent will be social housing is a trade-off to enable the high end and expensive housing for those who can afford to buy or can maintain a mortgage beyond what most of us could support. The current low occupancy rate of Callala and Culburra Beach as shown in the latest census doesn’t suggest that this is likely to change substantially. These villages aren’t set up with efficient public transport, resource or infrastructure. Like many areas, the roads are poorly maintained and the influx of tourists swell the populations in areas that were built and designed to support small resident and holiday traffic. There isn’t a lot to suggest the proposed housing developments will benefit the residents and natural areas. There is no doubt the beneficiaries will be those with the vested interests in the proposals. 

Anne Skates, Bomaderry

Land clearing in NSW has increased since the NSW Coalition relaxed land clearing and biodiversity protection laws in 2017. Today we hear that yet more land clearing is happening on the NSW South Coast, which will be at great cost to local fauna. A classic quote from the developer saying that their plan is better “compared to what most developers do” is hardly reassuring or a high benchmark to beat. The lousy land clearing record of the NSW state government will determine my vote at the March election. 

Judy Hungerford, North Curl Curl

The idea of leaving a few trees through the development would achieve little. And the suggestion that the greater glider, complete with, believe it or not, their tree hollows, could be relocated is also nonsense. Should a nearby suitable habitat be identified, no doubt there would already exist a glider population which, most probably also being vulnerable, would not accommodate additional tenants. 

Roger Epps, Armidale

READ MORE:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/wildlife-loss-the-legacy-of-nsw-government-developers-20230206-p5ci55.html

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