Greens call on Maitland Council to revisit flood area rezoning plans

Ms Rhiannon visited Maitland last month to discuss this issue with affected residents.

“A number of local residents have raised with me that they are shocked

that their Council is planning on rezoning land in flood prone areas

for residential and commercial use,” Ms Rhiannon.

“In this era of climate change which may bring a greater threat of

flooding it would be irresponsible  to allow building in high flood

risk areas.

“When I was in Maitland recently I visited some of the areas slated

for rezoning. If Maitland City Council sticks with its current plans

there would be a significant loss of the green corridors around the

city.

“The trees planted in these corridors provide significant cover and

are the lungs of Maitland.

“The Greens and many of the residents I have spoken to do not rule out

all rezonings but the current plan is flawed and needs to reassessed.

“Referring to this land as 'under utilised' the Central Maitland

Strategic Plan shows a bias in favour of fast tracking the rezoning of

this land.

“The Greens are keen to expand the work around the Plan. There are

other ways to accommodate the rapid rise in the population in this

region. A starting point should be to identify land in areas already

zoned residential and commercial that is being under utilised.

“With remnant bush only found on five per cent of the Maitland LGA and

with only one per cent of this land in public hands the green

corridors in the area to be rezoned should not be sacrificed.

“The key to safeguarding the greening of Maitland and the heritage

character of this region lies with the local community.

“A priority of this week's council meeting should be to adopt a plan

that will facilitate thorough community involvement at every stage of

the development of the Central Maitland Strategic Plan,” Ms Rhiannon

said.

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