Local Wildlife Gallery

Old Parish Maps

Local Links

E-Say NO to Overdevelopment HERE



What Otford & Helensburgh mean to Sydney & the Illawarra








Rainforest Herbert's Creek in Otford 2508 View of Otford looking East - E4 zone impact on RNP Rainforest Herbert's Creek in Otford 2508
Click any image to view larger

Say NO to Over-Development of Otford, Helensburgh, Lilyvale, Stanwell Park & Stanwell Tops via Here   
 Map showing wildlife corridor between RNP & IllawarraOtford is nestled in a stunning lush green valley at the southern end of the Royal National Park. between the plateau of Helensburgh and sheer cliffs of Stanwell Tops. Unique to the coast of NSW, that; despite its proximity to Sydney & Wollongong, much of the 2508 region is still covered in dense semi-temperate rainforest,  and inhabited by  threatened species such as the Sooty Owl , Powerful Owl  & Pygmy possums.   The region has for decades been a favourite destination for tourists, bushwalkers, surfers, bike riders, and nature lovers. And is now the start of the Grand Pacfic tourist drive to the NSW South coast.  Always protected by a ridge line of forest the Otford valley,  has retained its micro-climate and cooler moist conditions; feeding the springs of the Hacking river and catchment. Despite the horrific bushfires of 2001 that destroyed much of the Royal National Park, Heathcote and Garawarra &  Wilton, Otford remained lush, moist and unscathed - and consequently a haven for the fleeing wildlife
-It is the only remaining wildlife corridor connecting to the Royal National Park
-The deep moist valley gives shelter & life support in times of bush fire
-Intense and high biodiversity & endangered species  in land, aboreal & water life
-Micro-climate and vegetation - the air filter between Wollongong & Sydney
-Encroaching urban sprawl has greatly increased the  region's Environmental significance 
-Unique to the NSW coast and a favourite destination for tourists
Precincts & Locations of 7D land -  proposed for Development  &/or Conservation (as determined by WCC) 
Map of 2508
1. Gateway -Princes Hwy LHGD - B6
2. Gills Creek Precinct
3. Princes Hwy  West Precinct
4. Wilsons Creek Precinct
5. Garawarra Precinct
6. Frew Ave Precinct
7. Kellys Creek  Falls Precinct
8. Walker St Precinct
9. Landpooling Precinct
10. Lady Carrington Estates South
11. Camp Gully creek
12. Central Bushland
13. Lilyvale Precinct
14. Walker Lane Precinct
15. Metropolitan Colliery
16. Lukin St Precinct
17. Old Farm Road
18 . Lady Carrington Estates North
19. Govinda Valley
20. Lloyd Place
21. Otford Village North
22. Otford Central
23. Otford South
24. Misc Lots in Royal National Park
25. Otford Valley Farm









save 2508 logo

Otford to Helensburgh looking west to the ridge Camp Creek & HLP
View to Helensburgh Land Pool & LCE from Otford & the Grand Pacific Drive

Possible Development in B6 Corridor Old Princes Hwy Parkes to LHDRTIST IMPRESSION Under the proposed B6 zone - how ugly and built up our  Gateway entrance to 2508 could suddenly become
The photo directly above is the 'Gateway' from the F6 freeway to Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Park & Stanwell Tops & the main thoroughfare to hang-gliding and views at Bald Hill,  Kellys Falls, a Wildlife Park & meets the Grand Pacific Drive,  yet WCC thinks it should be a B6 corridor allowing mixed business from Light Industrial to caryards and brothels, as depicted in the 'artist impression - right hand photo!

But this beautiful green buffer to the Royal National Park is at risk from developers!  B6,  E3 & E4. These zonings allow new buildings on land, where no building right ever existed! -  which will result in barren earth land, polluted & eroded  river catchment & destroyed riparian corridor, native wildlife eradicaton including endangered species,  increased pollution  and feral pests, & ultimately strangle the biodiversity of the Royal National Park. What ever can flow, roll, crumble  or blow on the Helensburgh plateau will eventually end up in the valley and river

Wollongong City Council and NSW Dep Planning gazetted the WCC LEP 2009 in February this year, implementing the new zoning terms and respective restrictions.   However most controversial was the translation of the former high conservation  7D zoning into E3 rather than the original applicable E2.   E3 under NSW state planning allows new dwellings and various land uses.  Even if minimum lot size clauses are applied, the E3 zoning does not prevent land clearing, degradation, high boundary fences, or even livestock damage.  Some of the prescinct areas marked for E3  straddle tributary creeks on the edge of  the Helensburgh plateau, in a direct line of sight from the Grand Pacific tourist drive.  Given the high rainfall of the region,   a terrain of clay and coalwash  on a sandstone base, and existing negative urban impact held in check by the forest buffer, land clearing would cause enormous soil run-off,  and a marked increase in sediment, nitrates and effluent in the tributary creeks and Hacking River

Map showing wildlife corridor between RNP & Illawarra Wollongong City Council are requesting responses from the public to their recommended amendments to the 2009/2010 LEP for the 2508 region by August 16, 2010.
Some of the areas/precincts have been rightly recommended to E2 high conservation, which we need to Submit our agreement  (to negate Developers' submissions disagreeing with the E2 zone). But  too many precincts have been zoned to allow hazardous new development, which of course needs our disapproval submitted.   
To make it easy for you to have your say please add your name to one of our e-submissions to  Wollongong City Council &  with any extra comments you'd care to make   Email to WCC
  
 
Sth easterly view Old Illawarra Rd Otford   INSIDE:
 » green tree frog of otfordGallery of wildlife in Otford, Helensburgh & Stanwell Park:
 » WCC Preliminary Summary & Recommended Amendments to 2010 LEP 
 » Otford Protection Society Incorporated Gateway Proposal ( 3 versions)  
 » Large view of proposed new zoning in Otford & its impact on the Royal National Park
 » Map of 'interim' zoning gazetted Feb 2010 for 2508 & wrongfully changed from 7D
 » Parish, county and old paper subdivision maps
 »NPANSW logoNPANSW (National Parks Association NSW) Submission to WCC on the 7D rezoning(1.8mb PDF)

Information on Precincts & e-form letters to Wollongong City Council
icon 7D PRECINCTS stop over-development of the Helensburgh/Otford/Stanwell Park 
icon OTFORD PRECINCT » E-submission letter to stop over-development of the Otford Precinct
icon GATEWAY PRECINCT- B6 Enterprise Corridor  - Princes Hway & Lawrence Hargrave Drive
icon WILSONS CREEK PRECINCT-  Princes Hwy to Parkes St
icon GILLS CREEK PRECINCT- B6 & Industrial Corridor  - Princes Hway & Lawrence Hargrave Drive
icon E-submission letter to stop over-development of the 7D Precincts
icon E-submission letter -personalise to stop development on the precincts especially important to you

W.C.C contracted a survey earlier this year on Council performance, opinion and resident concerns. The survey results returned an overwhelming 88.2% of residents placing a high importance on the Protection of Natural Environment.












Please Note: Utmost care is taken to publish only factual material and links to  relevant government publications and interest groups in respect  to the 2508 region and adjoining national parkland. The present lifestyle, wilidlife corridor and clean environment with a relatively low density popuation are highly valued by the current ratepayers/residents, who wish to ensure those attributes are not devalued. We will not accept any liability for defamation in relation to third party material on this website, or linked to or from this website.  If any current included material or link is of concern, parties are welcome  to  email  requests for removal or edit and reasons for doing so