Mossy Point residents have loudly vocalised their objections to a controversial 14 lot subdivision that forms part of a critical local ecosystem in the suburb.
Mayor Matt Hatcher called for order in the chamber on at least two occasions after interjections from the public gallery while the proposal at the corner of George Bass Drive and Annette Parade was being debated.
Long time local and ecologist Susanne Grey told the meeting the site is a critical corridor for local wildlife.
“A few trees with all the ground layer cleared underneath is not the same thing as a corridor,” Ms Grey said.
“Even though there is a small patch of the C2 zoned forest that is going to be left it is going to spell the end for this yellow bellied glider population,” she said.
“I know it is only one species that is the key issue in this DA but there are in fact several other threatened species present on the site and they are ground dwellers which I have personally seen.”
An alternative motion moved by Councillor Sharon Winslade to reject the application was voted down when the Mayor Matt Hatcher used his casting vote to defeat it after a show of hands resulted in a 4-4 deadlock.
The original motion to approve the application was subsequently passed in the same way.
“This proposal involves clearing approximately 76 percent of the C4 zoned land,” Councillor Winslade said.
“Most of it is of high value and introduces intensive subdivision across much of the site. This raises a substantial question as to whether the ecological landscape and values of the land are being maintained in a valuable way,” she said.
“I’m not satisfied that the proposed development constitutes low impact residential development within the meaning and intent of a C4 zone.”
