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Well-known Central Coast-based landscape photographer, Ken Duncan, has announced his support for a campaign opposing a planning proposal to rezone conservation land at Kariong to make way for a housing development.
Duncan recently posted on social media that he loves a tree on the Woy Woy Road land that locals call the Grandmother Tree and that he has been there many times.
“On a recent visit with my daughter and wife I noticed that the tree seemed to be under great stress with what appeared to be tears of sap running down its trunk,” he posted.
“My Daughter notified me of a peaceful protest rally that was being held in Woy Woy. It was about saving the sacred lands near this tree that I was informed are under threat of housing development.
“At the rally I met Paul Craig who is a proud Guringai man and a traditional owner of the area where the tree is located. I also met Jake Cassar who is an incredibly skilled bushman and is a dedicated conservationist on the Central Coast.
“The area is stunning bushland filled with wildlife bush tucker and medicine. It is also an important water catchment area that feeds water down to the forest below.
“We need to stand with them to save the beautiful bushland of this area for future generations as that is what true custodians should do.
“Hopefully, people will hear the call of Nature and protect the sanctuaries we have left.”
Mr Duncan said he believed it was time to speak out no matter what the social media repercussions.
The planning proposal has been at the pre-exhibition stage for over 12 months. The Point understands its public exhibition is imminent, perhaps prompting Ken Duncan to make his public statement in opposition.
The proposal aims to rezone 7.1 hectares of the 13 hectare site from C2 Conservation zoning to a residential zoning.
“Here is a meeting place where suburbia is overwhelming nature,” Mr Duncan said. He has produced a print of the Grandmother Tree and proceeds from its sale will be donated to the campaign to save the site from rezoning.
“I urge you to join the fight to stop the development of pristine forests as this is only the tip of the iceberg of land grabs for development,” he said.
To check out copies of the print visit www.kenduncan.com/product/grandmother-tree
To find out more about the proposed rezoning, visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/pre-exhibition/darkinjung-lalc-kariong-woy-woy-road read the 12 documents and make up your own mind about the value of the existing C2 land versus the planned rezoning and residential development.
