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CASE STUDY
Building better community relationships – Sandon Point
Sandon Point, NSW
In November 2009, we were granted
development approval to create a beachside
residential community at McCauley’s Beach,
Thirroul in New South Wales. We aim to
provide the community with a quality modern
development that respects and highlights the
area’s Indigenous heritage, while protecting
and enhancing the local character and
environment. The project will comprise
a north and a south precinct including:
• Four phased villages, including 167 single
dwellings and 14 town houses,
• Rehabilitation of Hewitts, Woodlands
and Tramway creeks, with native
vegetation completing almost
nine hectares of green open spaces.
This will result in over one-third of the site
being transferred to public ownership.
Since we acquired the landholdings in
1999, the undertaking of the project has,
at times, led to strained relationships with
some members of the local community.
We understand the contested history
around development at McCauley’s Beach
and we recognise the need to make a
renewed effort to build better relationships
with the local community.
The key areas of concern for our
stakeholders are Indigenous and
European heritage, climate change
and the environment.
Indigenous and European Heritage
There are a number of Indigenous
groups who have identified the area
as their country. The New South Wales
Government gazetted a section of coastal
land at Sandon Point as an Aboriginal
Place to preserve the significant area as
open space. This preserved area is not
on our development site.
There is a possibility that some Aboriginal
artefacts may exist on McCauley’s Beach
and investigations into any artefacts found
will be undertaken with the participation
of representatives of the Aboriginal
community and the Department of
Environment, Climate Change and Water.
We are exploring a range of proposals to
acknowledge and celebrate the heritage
of the locality, such as building a viewing
platform on McCauley’s Beach which will
provide information on the cultural history
of the area.
Climate Change and Environment
In 2007 the concept plan approval for the
development was revoked by the Land
and Environment Court which ruled that
the consideration of the impacts of climate
change was inadequate. In response
to these claims we undertook detailed
climate change and flooding assessments.
Studies of the ‘100 year flood’ show that
the residential development is not at risk
of possible ocean rise as a result of climate
change. Our creek design will also ensure
that all housing lots are above the one in
100 year flood level, as adjusted for climate
change predictions.
The development will also see the restoration
of three riparian corridors. Water-sensitive
urban design will be incorporated as part of
the creek design, to ensure that only clean
water runs downstream.
Community Engagement
Our reputation has suffered, at times
unfairly, over the course of the project.
We have learned valuable lessons about
the importance of proactive stakeholder
engagement and are committed to
listening and responding to local residents,
Indigenous groups and our other
stakeholders. As such, we have established:
• A dedicated project website
which provides stakeholders with
regular updates and an avenue to
submit feedback,
• An Information Centre where the
community can talk to the project team
and view information, including plans,
• Community information sessions to
provide one-on-one contact with
the project team,
• A freecall information line so that
enquiries can be responded to quickly
and effectively,
• Regular newsletters which provide
up-to-date information about the project,
• Notification letters to alert local
residents of upcoming project works
that may affect them.
Since we reported on this project in our
CR&S report 2008, we have implemented
stakeholder engagement plans across
100 per cent of our projects and operations.
Stockland Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report June 2010
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