Issue 080 of COAST Community News

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FRE

April 9, 2014

Your independent local newspaper

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Issue 80

Legal advice finds Council failed to adequately ensure compliance T

he Community Environment Network (CEN) has now received legal advice on the dumping of over one million cubic metres of rubbish at Mangrove Mountain over the past 16 years.

The advice confirms that Gosford Council failed to adequately ensure compliance with legislation and approvals. It also reveals that an Environmental Impact Statement and Development Application is required for any continued dumping. The original approval was for 240,000 cubic metres over 10 years. CEN chairman Mr John Asquith said four times that amount of dumping has occurred in spite of many pieces of legislation that should have protected the environment. This included the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979), the Protection of Environment Operations Act (1997) and the Water Management Act (2000). “Failure to ensure compliance with this legislation has not been explained by Council,” said Mr Asquith. “It is clear that Gosford Council has failed in its duty to the residents of Mangrove Mountain. “Now, instead of providing an explanation and assurances on how council will not let that

happen again, council are restructuring to reduce staff, running a survey on tree removal and supporting the downgrading of environmental protection in the Fair Go campaign.” The Fair Go for the Central Coast Campaign is calling for the elimination of some environmental regulation. “However, experience has shown that the real problem is lack of compliance and lack of enforcement,” said Mr Asquith. “The excessive dumping at Mangrove Mountain Golf Course is a good example. “Recent calls for a reduction in Green tape by Gosford and Wyong Councils are hard to take seriously when Wyong Council has eliminated their Environment Section and Gosford has done little to fix Mangrove Mountain dumping. “If you eliminate the Environment Section, don’t enforce rules and get rid of the highly skilled staff, how will the environment be protected?” Media release, 7 Apr 2014 John Asquith, CEN The dumping ground at Mangrove Mountain


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