Twenty years ago Wallis Street residents fought and won a battle to stop development on the heritage-significant Glebe paddock at East Maitland.
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Now they are faced with another fight as Maitland City Council prepares to decide whether the rural land, owned by St Peter’s Anglican Church, should be zoned residential after a development proposal of 40 lots was submitted earlier this year.
Concerns about the heritage significance of the land dominate residents’ concerns but a council spokesman told the Mercury that the objective was to protect, manage and restore areas with special ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.
Aboriginal sacred land is on the site as well as an Aboriginal walking track and an Aboriginal archaeological site.
Resident Jeanette Aitken said the archaeological site was likely to hold ancient Aboriginal artefacts and she, like many residents, did not want to see part of the city’s history destroyed for the sake of a new housing development.
The situation is a case of deja vu for Cheryl Greenwood, who has lived in Wallis Street for 37 years.
In 1993 developers proposed a 115-lot subdivision, but council knocked it back after receiving 21 submissions and a petition with 260 signatures.
“This is the second time we have had to fight to stop development here and we will not give up,” she said.
The council spokesman acknowledged the area had Aboriginal and European significance and said Maitland and District Historical Society, Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Lower Hunter Wonnarua Council had been consulted.
He said an Archaeological Cultural Heritage Assessment and a statement of heritage impact had been submitted with the proposal.
If the land is rezoned and the development is approved, the Glebe paddock will be split into two sections.
One section will be subdivided into 40 residential lots and the remaining parcel of land will encompass the Aboriginal sacred sites, the hollow trees, and create a land buffer near the state heritage listed Glebe Cemetery.
A residential subdivision has already been approved on the northern side of the cemetery.
Resident Vicki Bliss feared the lack of suitable land for new housing developments would influence councillors to vote in favour of the proposal.
“This is the last bit of land that has significance during Maitland’s beginnings,” Mrs Bliss said.
“If this land is developed Maitland will become another Campbelltown.”
Submissions can be made to council about the proposal until November 8.