NST Article 1 Nov 2006

CLAIMS of illegal land clearing at the environmentally-sensitive Rippon Grange site at Wahroonga are being investigated by the State Environment and Conservation Department.

Ku-ring-gai Council has received "numerous" complaints from residents about vegetation and trees being removed from the Water St site, the subject of a controversial development proposal for 78 seniors' living units.

As the site contains a significant native blue gum high forest, the council's acting compliance team leader Harry Konsti reported the complaints to the department.

The department sent officers to inspect the site last Tuesday to determine whether there had been a possible breach of State legislation.

Ku-ring-gai Mayor Nick Ebbeck said it was now a matter for the department and it was not appropriate to comment on the department's investigation.

"This has nothing to do with the development application which is currently being assessed by council (but) I can understand the residents' concerns due to the site having a native blue gum high forest," Cr Ebbeck said.

A department spokesman confirmed the claims were being investigated following the site visit last week.

"The Department is in discussions with council and the developer at the moment," the spokesman said.

A spokesman for developer Waterbrook Lifestyle Resorts would not comment at length for fear of jeopardising the department's investigation.

"There has been some advance planting around the perimeters however the works did not require development approval," project manager Ben MacGibbon said.