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An Aboriginal land council has withdrawn a long-running plan to raze bushland for up to 450 homes on Sydney’s northern beaches following years of fierce opposition from residents and firefighters.
Since 2006, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council has sought to develop the 71-hectare site, known as Lizard Rock, in Belrose. A 2022 plan to rezone the site, known as the Patyegarang proposal, triggered a wave of resistance from the Northern Beaches Council and community groups over “extreme” bushfire risk, threats to native species and infrastructure strain.
The proposal’s fate had been uncertain since 2024, when the Sydney North Planning Panel gave the project conditional approval, contingent on sign-off from the Rural Fire Service which opposed it.
Independent Wakehurst MP Michael Regan said the land council’s decision to withdraw the plan was “a win”, but he would not speculate on whether he expected a revised housing plan to be submitted.
“Common sense has prevailed – for now. But we’re also wary about what’s next,” Regan said.
“It’s Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council land, and they’re entitled to put forward an application – that’s never been in dispute,” Regan said.
But he was worried about reforms that gave the NSW Planning Department the power to override advice from emergency services about residential development applications in fire-prone land.
The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council has been contacted for comment.
Regan described the plan as “reckless in the extreme”, as it would have “created a bushfire trap for future residents, left them potentially unable to insure their homes and put firefighters at dire risk”.
“I would have preferred to see a decision from the planning panel refusing the rezoning proposal on its merits,” Regan said.
A revised proposal, submitted in 2023, attracted 3700 submissions which reiterated concerns over bushfire risk and evacuation, loss of bushland, impacts on significant flora and fauna, inadequate infrastructure, traffic and access matters, waterway impacts and the scale of the proposed rezoning.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the withdrawal of plans for the “inappropriate development” was a “sensible outcome”. She said the council was committed to working with the land council and authorities to find an alternative solution.
“Council has always supported the intent of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and the importance of enabling Aboriginal people to achieve economic self-determination.
“However, this particular proposal presented serious risks and impacts, including the loss of around 45 football fields of bushland and the construction of hundreds of homes in a high bushfire risk area.
“This is … an important step towards protecting lives, protecting our environment and respecting the community’s strong concerns,” Heins said.
Community group Sydney YIMBY had argued the proposal, which included a cultural centre, had been “frustrated by bureaucracy” and the land council should be able to develop their land as they saw fit.
“[Otherwise] they can’t use the land to deliver housing for the Aboriginal community, and they cannot use the proceeds to deliver economic and cultural benefits.”
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