The General Manager

Bega Valley Shire

Colin Sagar,President

The Environment Network Inc

32 Church St

Bega NSW 2550

21 September 2006

Submission re DA 2005.0896 Lots 5‑16 section DP  58076‑53‑65 Bega St Bega

Dear Sir,

The Environment Network Inc wishes to object to this DA. We hold serious concerns re the nature, scope, intent and degree of public consultation of matters arising from this DA. for the site known as "Spenco's".

Included in matters considered unsatisfactory in the DA are:

Heritage ‑ The DA will see the total removal of all heritage values on this site. These values include: significant historic buildings and trees, community cultural fabric and identity values, environmental values of vegetation. Hydrological integrity and wetland protection, scenic / screening values ( perimeter vegetation),

• There has been no determination or application for an eventual use for this, site. It is unwarranted and premature to approve any DA that may adversely impact on the various heritage and environmental qualities of the site prior to an eventual end use being approved. Approval of this DA will lead to the irreversible destruction of all heritage values,
• By denying approval of this DA it is quite likely that in time proposals for this site will emerge that are viable and sympathetic to heritage, values and that these "I be embraced be both the community and a responsible developer.
• It seems likely that approval of this DA will result in the obliteration of heritage values immediately, with there replacement with absolutely nothing bar a cleared block ‑‑‑‑‑‑ for an indefinite period of perhaps many years.
• If the proposal to cut and fill, is actually carried out, it May well result in hydrological problems and an erodable eyesore that persists for decades until being perhaps sold on and eventually developed,
• As the site. has had various industrial uses that may have involved heavy chemical use any DA that involves soil disturbance will require a Toxic Chemical Report.
• This DA would result in unnecessary and unjustifiable noise and dust and major truck traffic intrusion for the surrounding area over a considerable time.
• The proposal has serious implications for all neighbours including residences, the Mumbulla School, the BEND development, abutting far in‑ land and wetlands the industrial area and the greater Bega and shire community.
• Bega has been identified as the regional growth centre and will over the coming years require a range of facilities both public and private. These will include a new hospital, expanded education facilities, new residential areas, botanical gardens and perhaps even a theme park. Any of these uses may be more suitable to the Spenco site than a vacant block or a "big box hardware store (one suggested use put forward).
• Clearly with the Bega Town Centre Plan being discussed now it is a most inappropriate time to give any approval to major and irreversible changes at the Spenco site.

Based on the points above, the DA should be rejected.

Any further consideration of development and advice regarding the various, heritage values of this site should be accompanied by correct and thorough involvement of all community interest groups.

Yours sincerely