news, local-news, Macarthur Advertiser, Campbelltown Council, biobanking, Ted Rowell

A policy that effectively allows developers to pay money to knock down trees and not replace them has garnered supported from the majority of Campbelltown councillors. In 2006 the NSW Government introduced its Biobanking Scheme which allows the developer to clear vegetation in one location and then purchase existing parcels of trees in the form of biobanking credits in another location to ‘‘offset’’ the damage. The majority of councillors endorsed a motion at last Tuesday night’s council meeting to investigate the number of biobanking ‘‘credits’’ that may be available at Noorumba Reserve, Rosemeadow. Any funds raised from the credit purchases would go to Campbelltown Council. Cr Ted Rowell and Cr Sue Dobson did not support the motion. Mr Rowell said he ‘‘didn’t believe in it’’. ‘‘I can’t see how that does anything good for the climate,’’ he said. ‘‘Also, I don’t like the fact that we would tie up Noorumba Reserve forever.’’ With credits determined by market value, the council estimated more than $6 million could be made from the scheme due to the amount of in-demand and endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland and Shale Sandstone Traditional Forest in the area. A previous feasibility study estimated about 40 of the 46 hectares in the reserve featured Cumberland Plain Woodland. It also found almost 400 ecosystem credits and 506 species credits could be purchased from the reserve. The motion endorsed by Campbelltown Council on Tuesday will see the council undertake a formal biobanking credit assessment to determine the exact amount of credits available at the site.

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