At a Bellingen Shire Council Meeting on January 29, councillors voted to approve construction of the Mylestom Pathway Project (MPP), a 600-metre long, 1.8 metre wide concrete slab construction pathway along the crown of the riverbank at Mylestom. This pathway was funded by the 2018 NSW Stronger Country Communities Plan, Round 2.

The pathway proved to be a divisive issue within the local community so MCAGI endeavoured to come up with an alternate proposal, which was ultimately not preferred by councillors. Members of the MCAGI were given the impression by some of the councillors at the council meeting of January 29 that the MPP is primarily a 'Disabilities and Inclusiveness' issue and therefore of primary importance to council.

At this meeting a council-developed option (number 3) was available to site the path adjacent to the River St roadway. MCAGI would have considered this a win-win solution for the whole community and thus would have totally supported it, however the majority of councillors present gave it no consideration.

MCAGI have been reliably informed council considers that the MPP falls under NSW SEPP Infrastructure (2007) and as such neither an EIS nor further comment from the public is required before construction commences early June.

Our immediate concern lies with the fact that it appears that the route of the path takes it underneath the drip zone of established native species including blackbutt, bloodwood, Sydney blue gum and tallowwood, among others.

Excavation work for the concrete slab pathway will be within both the tree protection zone and structural root zone of many of these mature trees. This seems contrary to the 'best practice' indicated by Australian Standards 4790-2009 (Protection of Trees on Development Sites) which is specific to avoiding damage to tree protection and structural root zones.

Although council has stated it will be mindful of the structural root zones of the trees involved, we are concerned for the deleterious effect this concrete slab construction will have on the survival of the trees and the fauna dependent on them.

We are particularly disappointed that the use of an environmentally friendly permeable concrete appears not to have been considered, when an Australian made product specifically designed for use in Tree Protection Zones is available.

Furthermore, we believe a part of the pathway passes adjacent to mapped koala habitat that is described as Preferred Koala Habitat B and is nearby to an extensive area of Core Koala Habitat. It seems contrary to us that council should be undertaking these actions in view of its own extensive suite of Koala Protection Policies, and indeed those of the NSW State Government.

To MCAGI, it appears that the environment takes a potentially disastrous second place to this compromising development. Little concern appears to have been given to the long term viability of sensitive native flora or fauna along the route of this 600-metre long 1.8 metre wide concrete slab pathway.

We note that council, in its Managed tree policy (4b) expresses its desire to follow a proactive approach to tree management and as such, it strives to "reduce the need for unpredictable and reactive actions to mitigate potential hazards". Should processes along the way fail, section (4e) suggests that the possibility for total removal could occur. MCAGI consider this a totally unacceptable outcome for both the environment and the community at large.

MCAGI would like to most sincerely thank all the members of the local community who indicated their opposition to the MPP, and to Cr Wright-Turner who at the council meeting of January 29 indicated that she required more information and thus voted against the MPP.

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