Northern Beaches Council has agreed to progress a proposal to strengthen the long-term protection of the Ingleside wildlife corridor, including seeking the transfer of identified State-owned land to Council and to rezone it for environmental conservation.
The land is part of a corridor that links Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Katandra Bushland Sanctuary and Ingleside Chase Reserve, while also connecting habitat to Irrawong Reserve and Warriewood Wetlands.
A preliminary Council assessment found the area contains largely intact native bushland in good condition and provides important habitat connectivity. The Ingleside corridor contains habitat that supports, or has the potential to support, more than 30 threatened species from the local area. Native vegetation within the corridor also includes areas of coastal upland swamp, an endangered ecological community.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said protecting the corridor would help safeguard valuable bushland and support wildlife movement across the area.
“This is a rare opportunity to strengthen protection for an important wildlife corridor and preserve habitat that supports threatened species.
“Keeping this bushland connected is also vital to the continued success of the fauna overpass and underpasses delivered as part of the Mona Vale Road East upgrade,” Mayor Heins said.
Under the proposal, Council would formally express interest in identified land parcels being transferred to Council from the NSW Office of Strategic Lands (OSL) and seek agreement to apply a C2 Environmental Conservation zone under Council’s Local Environmental Plan.
A C2 zoning would provide a higher level of environmental protection than the currently proposed C3 Environmental Management zone by prohibiting dwelling houses and other uses that could affect the corridor’s environmental values.
“Council ownership could provide greater certainty for the corridor’s long-term protection and enable active management including bushland regeneration, weed control and hazard reduction,” Mayor Heins said.
“We’d like to acknowledge Pittwater Natural Heritage Association for its diligence in promoting the benefits and importance of the Ingleside Wildlife Corridor.
“Before any decision is made, Council would undertake detailed due diligence so the community can be confident the environmental benefits, risks and long-term costs have been carefully considered.”
The investigations would examine terms of land transfer, whole-of-life financial impacts, funding requirements, bushfire management obligations, contamination and geotechnical risks. A further report would be presented to Council before any land transfer is finalised.
If the land is transferred to Council, it will require reclassification in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993. Should the land be transferred to Council, it is intended that it would become Community Land and be categorised as Natural Area – Bushland, meaning that it will not be able to be sold but will be retained for conservation and sustainable community use.
