Maddens Plains bushland up for grabs

By Matthew Jones
Updated November 6 2012 - 2:44am, first published October 14 2011 - 10:03am
The 586ha slice of Maddens Plains outlined above is drawing interest as a 'biobank' which would allow its buyers to develop environmentally sensitive land elsewhere.
The 586ha slice of Maddens Plains outlined above is drawing interest as a 'biobank' which would allow its buyers to develop environmentally sensitive land elsewhere.

Properties in the Illawarra don't get much bigger than this.Wollongong agent Travis Machan, of MMJ, has listed for sale six million square metres of bushland, comprising most of Maddens Plains and stretching east of the Old Princes Hwy from near Scarborough to Stanwell Tops.Previously owned by a Sydney company, much of the land, which is split into seven lots, is zoned for environmental conservation and can't be developed or built on.Instead, it has been considered for use as a so-called "biobank".Under a State Government scheme, developers can buy credits which allow them to build on some pockets of environmentally sensitive land in exchange for saving from development similar land elsewhere.Wollongong City Council and the Thirroul branch of the Labor Party have called for the entire property to be put into public hands to keep the northern-most part of one lot away from developers.That slice is zoned for environmental management rather than conservation, meaning small-scale developments are allowed, including residential housing and tourist accommodation.Wollongong council last Monday voted unanimously to work with state and federal governments to try to buy the entire property.Councillor Janice Kershaw said she could recall at least two attempts to develop a 6.5ha slice of the 586ha property, including one that ended in a Land and Environment Court battle."It's probably the most environmentally significant piece of property that's come up for sale for a long time," she said. "It's surrounded by state conservation area. It's just a piece of property that's so large that we've just got to try and do something to get it into public ownership."Labor Party Thirroul branch member Paul Tuckerman said the land was better held in public ownership."The natural areas surrounding the Sydney Basin and the Illawarra are the lungs of the city and must be protected," he said.MMJ's Mr Machan said expressions of interest in the land would close on November 17 and more than 20 groups had already registered their interest.For more information, he can be contacted on 0447 300 800.

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