Endangered parrot to swoop on housing bid

Jessica Benton
The orange-bellied parrot will be a key weapon in the armoury of environmentalists when they fight controversial plans for a Point Lonsdale residential development at a panel hearing next week.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said opponents would table research and other evidence showing the Stockland project threatened habitat for the endangered parrot and migratory wading birds.
The orange-bellied parrot has featured in numerous battles against Victorian development proposals, including the successful 1990s fight to stop development of a chemicals complex at Point Lillias.
“It’ll be an interesting hearing,” Ms Lindros said.
“It’s a very complex piece of land. I feel we’ll all be putting really good stuff in front of the panel and my personal view is I don’t see how the development being proposed could possibly be put on that piece of land.”
Stockland wants to build 598 residential allotments, a retirement village and an aged-care facility at Lonsdale Lakes.
Geelong’s council initially approved a larger Stockland plan in early 2006 but then-Planning Minister Rob Hulls rejected the bid. Mr Hulls ruled the proposal did not comply with State Government policy restricting coastal development.
The initial plan sought rezoning because it went outside a residential-zoned area. The new plan is within the residential zoning.
The independent panel hearing will begin on Monday.
Ms Lindros said Stockland would be up against a number of community groups, environmentalists and residents.
The environment council had also met Environment Minister Peter Garrett in Canberra asking him to include Lonsdale Lakes in an international RAMSAR treaty list for the Bellarine Peninsula and Port Phillip area, she said.
The RAMSAR agreement seeks to protect internationally important wetland areas.
“Mr Garrett is still thinking and having work done on the issue of that area being on the list,” Ms Lindros said.
Stockland has told the Independent it will not comment on the project during the planning process.