The Friends of Kitty’s Creek are concerned that the proposed development will lead to increased erosion and sedimentation on the steep slope on the northern side of the subject site. The property is situated on Melba Drive, above Pittwater Road, East Ryde. Stormwater run-off in from the excavation and construction would flow across the ground and into the existing stormwater drains which flow directly into the Lane Cove National Park, and the area of Estuarine Saltmarsh, immediately to the north of the Pittwater Road boundary with the National Park. The Saltmarsh is identified in mapping of the location of Saltmarsh by Ryde Council. There are trash racks on the stormwater drains, but no stormwater detention basins sufficient to protect the Saltmarsh from deposited silt and pollutants during high rainfall events and at high tide.
The subject site is one of many properties on the steep slope between Melba Drive and Pittwater Road, East Ryde, which are subject to recent amended planning controls, which permit a substantive increase in the development potential on each parcel. The result of the planning controls is a major increase in the depth of excavation and increase in site coverage by the proposed dwellings, associated structures and paving. There is a significant loss of mature trees and private open space land, and reduced infiltration of stormwater, due to the amended planning controls, which have no regard to the environmental impacts on the subject land and on the Estuarine Saltmarsh endangered ecological community, and the Lane Cove National Park or the water quality of the Lane Cove River. The River has been impacted by pollutants for many years, and despite ongoing efforts to address the issue, has not been declared suitable for primary contact.
The proposed development which has the potential to add significantly to the pollution and siltation of the Lane Cove River, through erosion and silt being carried by stormwater into the Lane Cove National Park, the River, and the Estuarine Saltmarsh, should not be approved on the subject land. Further, the cumulative impacts of development permitted under the amended planning controls on the north facing slope, including the loss of mature vegetation and the absence of stormwater detention basins on the stormwater drains entering the National Parks, warrants urgent action by Ryde Council to amend the Ryde LEP by removing steep slopes in the Lane Cove River catchment from the current dual and multiple dwelling provisions.
