To save Catherine Hill Bay from development. Catherine Hill Bay is a tiny 19th century coal mining village, in the lush virgin coastal forest of Eastern Australia, 100 kilometres north of Sydney. It is surrounded by Wallarah National Park, Munmorah State Conservation Area, and the Pacific Ocean. Catherine Hill Bay has been declared a Heritage Conservation Area by the NSW Heritage Council and Lake Macquarie City Council, and a Heritage Village by the NSW Government, only the second Heritage Village in the country's oldest state. The 100 houses of the village and its surrounding bushland are about to be swamped by the development of 540 (approved) houses and commercial precinct, plus 228 (proposed) houses, surrounding the village. The development was approved by the Government, but is opposed by the Land and Environment Court, National Trust, Heritage Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Wyong City Council, Catherine Hill Bay Progress Association, CHB Surf Lifesaving Club, Catho Boardriders Association, over 3000 written objections to the NSW Government, and the NSW community.
We the members of the Australian and world community, noting that the NSW Government has for the benefit of the State and Nation declared Catherine Hill Bay as New South Wales' second-only Heritage Village, are alarmed and concerned that the same Government has approved a 540 house plus commercial development, and is considering approval of another 228 house development, to swamp the 100 houses of the Heritage Village, 140-year old pub, headland, beach and surrounding forest. We ask the NSW Government to stop this development and destruction of our heritage.
