Have your say NSW Government Planning Review

The NSW Government has released its Green Paper on 14 July outlining its position and proposed approach to the overhaul of NSW planning laws and processes.

This important to everyone as it will guide how planning will be governed in the future, how development applications will be asssessed and reviewed and our rights as individuals and a community to ‘have a say’ in development in our area.

We don’t want a repeat of what happened with the planning process in the Mowbray Precinct – planning studies being conducted AFTER the area was re-zoned for high density and forced zoning onto the Council by the State Government.

The SBCRA is currently preparing our response to this Green Paper, you can too.

Have your say by sending a response to the government on the proposed planning changes. You can down load the Green Paper by going to http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/newplanningsystem

This document is open for public comment until Friday 14 September 2012.

Read more about the SBCRA’s involvement in the NSW Planning Review

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you heard the Powerful Owl?

The SBCRA is participating again in Birdlife Australia’s Powerful Owl breeding study.

We know that the Batten Reserve had evidence of roosting of the Powerful Owl last year.  We want to know if the owls are back again this year, and ideally if they are breeding in our area.

Breeding for the owls generally takes place from May-October.

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest species of owl which are also listed as vulnerable in NSW. It is about 55cm tall and characterised by its large yellow eyes, massive talons, white and grey-brown plumage and its distinctive deep ‘whoo-hoo’ call.

For more information and an image of the Powerful Owl check out: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/powerful-owl-wbc.html

If you have recently  heard the Powerful Owl, please contact us on contact@sbcra.org.au and let us know the location.