Former Bolwarra Landcare members' concerned about residential development around wetlands

John Brown, a former Maitland councillor and a current Greens Central Ward candidate, was one of the Bolwarra Landcare members who worked on the wetlands in the 1990s.

He’s one of a group of locals concerned that current residential development around the wetlands is impacting wildlife around the reserve. 

Mr Brown said that the wetlands, nestled in behind the Bolwarra sporting complex, played an important environmental role with the area home to kangaroos and a variety of native birds.  

“There’s a lot of the trees and surrounding vegetation planted by Bolwarra Landcare in the 1990s,” Mr Brown said. 

Mr Brown described the development around the wetlands as “crushing” and “not in the spirit of community support”. 

“It really feels like developers are taking over the place and things like the environment are being left behind.”

“I describe this as crushing community spirit.” 

“It should be protected.”

Council’s manager of development and environment David Simm confirmed that current construction around the wetlands was in accordance with council policy and bushfire protection practice. 

“Parts of this subdivision in Bolwarra have an environmental zoning. This allows for dwelling development on the lot/s which in turn requires a management practice that suitably protects the asset from the spreading of bushfires,” Mr Simm said. 

Mr Simm said the zoning protected part of the the surrounding vegetation, but private landowners retained the right to develop their land. 

“Current maintenance works are in accordance with DA conditions of consent. In terms of the environmental benefits, the zoning has been used to protect the majority of vegetation by private owners, who have the ability to develop part of the land for residential purposes.”

“This in turn helps to encourage the land owner to maintain and improve the vegetation quality over time.”