ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 28 june 2005 at ...

Ordinary Meeting <strong>of</strong> Council - 28 June 2005 3 / 1
Item 3
DA0902/04-2
29 June 2005
PETITION
REQUEST COUNCIL TO PURCHASE 100 TO 102 ROSEDALE ROAD - TO
ENSURE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION OF ST IVES BLUE GUM HIGH
FOREST (THREE HUNDRED & SEVENTY-ONE [371] SIGNATURES)
Councillor Hall presented the following Petition <strong>to</strong> Council:
"We, the undersigned, urge Ku-ring-gai Council <strong>to</strong> commit <strong>to</strong> the immediate purchase <strong>of</strong>
100 -102 Rosedale Road <strong>to</strong> ensure the long term preservation <strong>of</strong> the St Ives Blue Gum High
Forest.
• The St Ives Blue Gum High Forest is the largest <strong>be</strong>st-preserved and most intact forest
<strong>of</strong> its kind left in Australia. It is listed as an 'endangered ecological community' and it
is currently <strong>be</strong>ing assessed for State Heritage Listing as it has proven outstanding
his<strong>to</strong>rical, cultural and ecological significance.
• 100-102 Rosedale Road, St Ives, which forms part <strong>of</strong> the core habitat <strong>of</strong> this forest, is
privately owned land. Any development on the site will have detrimental effects on the
surrounding forest, endangering its long-term survival.
• In 2002 the National Parks and Wildlife Service recognized the Blue Gum High Forest
was in imminent danger <strong>of</strong> extinction.
• Results <strong>of</strong> recent Community Surveys (Ku-ring-gai and St Ives) clearly show
conservation <strong>of</strong> biodiversity and habitat are the priorities <strong>of</strong> Ku-ring-gai residents.
• Ku-ring-gai Council recognized the importance <strong>of</strong> the Forest as early as in the 19305
when it purchased Browns Forest during the Depression.
• Council is currently considering spending tens <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> dollars on building
facilities.
It is time Ku-ring-gai Council accepted its responsibility in the purchase <strong>of</strong> this last
important section for reserve <strong>to</strong> ensure the survival <strong>of</strong> the forest for future generations."
RECOMMENDATION
That the Petition <strong>be</strong> received and referred <strong>to</strong> the appropriate <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> Council for attention.
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