Push to clear bushland in Sydney’s north scrapped – for now

An Aboriginal land council has abandoned its plan to clear bushland in Sydney's northern suburbs for up to 450 new homes after years of intense public and official opposition. The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) announced the withdrawal of its proposal for the 71-hectare Lizard Rock site in Belrose, known as the Patyegarang development. This decision follows sustained pressure from local government, environmental advocates, and emergency service agencies who raised concerns about the project’s potential impact on bushfire safety, ecological preservation, and infrastructure capacity. The MLALC had pursued the development since 2006, seeking to rezone the land for residential use under the Patyegarang proposal introduced in 2022. That year, the Northern Beaches Council and numerous community groups voiced strong objections, citing the area's high bushfire risk, threats to native wildlife, and insufficient infrastructure to support such a large-scale development. Despite receiving conditional approval from the Sydney North Planning Panel in 2024, the project remained stalled due to the need for endorsement from the NSW Rural Fire Service, which had consistently opposed the plan. Independent MP Michael Regan, representing the Wakehurst electorate, welcomed the decision as a temporary victory but warned against complacency. He emphasized that while the MLALC retains the right to submit a revised proposal, the current political climate raises concerns about recent changes allowing the NSW Planning Department to override recommendations from emergency services regarding developments in fire-prone areas. Regan criticized the original plan as “reckless in the extreme,” arguing it would create a dangerous situation for residents, hinder insurance availability, and endanger firefighters. The 2023 version of the proposal drew more than 3,700 responses, many of which echoed earlier criticisms. Concerns included the risk of bushfires, challenges related to evacuation procedures, the destruction of significant natural habitats, and the lack of adequate infrastructure to handle increased traffic, access, and water management issues. These factors contributed significantly to the growing public and governmental resistance to the project. Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins called the withdrawal of the development plan a “sensible outcome.” She acknowledged the council’s commitment to supporting the goals of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, which aims to empower Indigenous communities through economic self-sufficiency. However, she stressed that this specific proposal posed unacceptable risks, particularly the loss of approximately 45 football fields worth of bushland and the placement of hundreds of homes in a region classified as high-risk for bushfires. Heins expressed relief that the move marked progress in safeguarding both human life and the natural environment. Supporters of the original plan, including members of the Sydney YIMBY advocacy group, argued that the proposal faced unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. They contended that the MLALC should have the autonomy to manage its lands as it sees fit, emphasizing the potential for the project to provide housing for the Aboriginal community and generate funds for broader economic and cultural initiatives. Critics, however, maintained that the risks associated with developing in such a vulnerable area outweighed these potential benefits. The MLALC has yet to issue a formal statement on the decision, though it is understood that internal discussions about the future of the site continue. While the immediate threat of development appears to have receded, the possibility of a revised proposal remains open. The outcome will depend on how the MLALC balances its obligations under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act with the practical realities of land use in one of Sydney’s most ecologically sensitive regions.