Draft Area Plan for Buttaba Hills South

Draft Area Plan for Buttaba Hills South

The Buttaba Hills South Estate is 34ha of forested land on the western slopes of Lake Macquarie, with high biodiversity values and a desirable residential environment.

Options in the draft Area Plan

The draft Area Plan provides three options for landowners regarding the future land use and development within the estate.

02/05/2023

OPTION A OPTION A - Draft

This development option is the most compatible with the ecological and environmental characteristics of the site.

Option A aims to avoid significant impacts on biodiversity values, allow the best use of the elevated north-east area for housing lots, and meet biodiversity offset requirements within the estate.

OPTION B OPTION B – Draft

This option includes new lots south of the creek. This area is bushfire prone and the Rural Fire Service would need to approve an emergency access road. This is likely to affect biodiversity conservation land.

Option B is less compatible with the ecological and environmental constraints of the site. There maybe extra cost for landowners to find and purchase biodiversity offset land elsewhere.

Provide emergency vehicle access and egress to the satisfaction of RFS and OEH

02/05/2023

OPTION C

This option recognises the high biodiversity values of the site. Landowners could pool their land and commission an accredited consultant to obtain a Biobanking Statement. This Statement would confirm the number and type of biodiversity credits associated with on-site management that will improve or maintain biodiversity values.

The site could then be sold to a developer seeking biodiversity offsets or to a biodiversity offset provider for the purposes of establishing a Biobanking site.