CAPE BAUER DEVELOPMENT NEARS PUBLIC COMMENT PHASE. GET READY TO HAVE YOUR SAY.

[matthew.figg]

A proposal for the development of over 300 new dwellings, holiday cottages and an eco-tourism resort at Cape Bauer, near Streaky Bay, was declared a major project by the South Australian Government on 3rd September 2009.

The proposal, submitted by "The Streaky Bay Group", is currently being assessed by the Australian Federal Department of Environment and Heritage under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) due to its potential impact on threatened Osprey and White-bellied Sea Eagles, which nest in the rugged clifftops near Cape Bauer.
Friends of Sceale Bay have investigated this matter, and this is the current state of play.

Additional assessment of this proposal has been undertaken by the State Development Assessment Commission (DAC), which visited Streaky Bay recently to meet with the proponents and the District Council of Streaky Bay.

The DAC will soon recommend which level of environmental assessment will be required of the developer, and when this is known, the developer will submit the appropriate environmental assessment report  to Planning SA for comment. The report will then be returned to the proponent for amendment before being made available to the public during a 6-week public consultation period. If you want to keep a close track of this proposal, you can monitor the Major Projects section of Planning SA's website for the release of the environmental assessment report on this project. We will also keep you informed on this website.

During the public consultation period, a public meeting will be held at Streaky Bay, and written comment will be sought from interested parties. The Friends of Sceale Bay will respond during the public consultation period, and your thoughts, posted on our blog page will be an important gauge of public opinion on this development.
You can find details about this development on the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) website, administered by the Federal Department for Environment and Heritage. Have a look at what is proposed for Cape Bauer and have your say on our blog!  

[Michele]

The State Development Assessment Commission (DAC) has decided that the proposed Cape Bauer Ecotourism Resort and Rural Residential Development will require a Public Environmental Report (PER).
The DAC released their Guidelines for this Report on Monday 31st May 2010. The Guidelines can be downloaded from Planning SA's website:
www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/major-developments
The guidelines set out 139 issues that will need to be addressed by the developers in their PER, including planning, environmental, economic and social issues.
It may be several months before the developers release their PER for public comment. When the PER is released, there will be a public notification, a public meeting at Streaky Bay, and a six week period for public responses to the PER.
What are your thoughts on this proposal and what are your thoughts on the list of issues outlined by the DAC?

[Michele]

Information on this development from the Planning SA website:

http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=F2526400-9C0C-11DE-A3E2000F2030D46A

Cape Bauer Ecotourism Resort (Streaky Bay)

For information about the ?Major Developments? assessment process (a detailed assessment process with opportunity for public comment before any decision is made on whether a proposal can proceed or not) please visit the Major Development Proposals page.

Proponent: Streaky Bay Group

Proposal Description: The proponent is proposing the development of a range of environmentally sustainable tourist, seasonal holiday and rural residential accommodation.

In summary, the proposal includes the construction of:

International Eco-tourism Resort and Seasonal Holliday Accommodation

    * A four to five star ecotourism resort including hotel/motel accommodation, conference facilities, restaurant, commercial areas and a pool. Also attached will be 22 self contained ?coastal villa? accommodation units.
    * Provided separately from the motel and ?coastal villas? will be a further 30 individual dwellings on small land parcels as owner occupied holiday home accommodation.

Rural Residential Allotments (approximately 300)

    * 320 hectares for rural residential allotments numbering 300 land parcels (i.e. 1-2 hectares each including landscaping with native vegetation.

Environmental Habitat Restoration

    * Habitat restoration for approximately 47% of the land plus revegetation of marginal primary production land representing approximately 27% of the land.

Other information:
Minister's Media Release - Cape Bauer Ecotourism Resort (3 September 2009) [PDF 85 KB]

Status and Documentation: Awaiting formal development application from proponent (application must be received before the proposal can be referred to the DAC for determination of assessment level and Guidelines prepared for further detailed assessment)
STAGE OF ASSESSMENT PROCESS   DATE    DOCUMENTATION

Declaration as Major Development
   

3 Sept 2009
   

See Notice in Government Gazette on that date

[SEARCY]

Extract from SB District Council meeting, (June 2010 Agenda Report):
11.6.5 Major Development Guidelines for a Public Environmental Report (PER).
Cape Bauer Eco-tourism Resort and Rural Residential Development 134
Recommendation:
That Council resolve to receive and note:
a) Media release from Hon Paul Holloway, Minster for Urban
Development and Planning re Cape Bauer Development.
b) Guidelines for the preparation of a Public Environmental Report for
Cape Bauer Eco-tourism Resort and Rural Residential
Development issued by the Development Assessment Commission
and Department for Planning and Local Government.

[SEARCY]

The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) seeks to engage Property Council members in tourism investment and development opportunities.  In its Brilliant Opportunities newsletter, SATC outlines tourism opportunities available throughout the State.  Two of these opportunities are profiled below.

Expressions of interest sought - Cape Bauer Eco Tourism Resort:

A stunning ecotourism resort and residential development at Cape Bauer, close to the seaside town of Streaky Bay in South Australia, is being planned for commencement in 2012. The project has been declared a Major Project by the South Australian Government and the project?s developers, The Streaky Bay Group, will soon commence investigations for the preparation of a Public Environmental Report (PER).

In order to address the comprehensive requirements of the PER, the Streaky Bay Group is now seeking Expressions of Interest from tourism operators and developers interested in participating in the design, development and operation of the ecotourism resort.

Located 15 kilometres North West of Streaky Bay and 695 kilometres North West of Adelaide overlooking the Great Australian Bight, the project will comprise an ecotourism resort, self contained serviced coastal villas, seasonal holiday accommodation and a rural residential land division. Approximately 1,200 hectares of the 1,550 hectare site have been earmarked for habitat restoration and revegetation.

The demand for experiential tourism from domestic and international markets is growing and The Cape Bauer Ecotourism Resort will provide a range of relaxation and experiential opportunities for travellers seeking something new or different. The purity and unique qualities of the environment will allow the resort to offer an integrated destination package with a design reflecting the environment including:

    * Wilderness areas
    * Accessible coastline
    * Access to natural recreation opportunities in a protected environment
    * Natural heritage attrations

For more information and expression of interest documentation, please contact Phill Hudson on (08) 8212 7122 or email phill@hudsonhowells.com

 

[Michele]

The Friends of Sceale Bay welcome the recent decision to postpone the proposed development at Cape Bauer. FoSB are particularly apposed to the large residential component of the proposed project:

The West Coast Sentinel Newspaper has reported that the Cape Bauer Development has been postponed
BY GEMMA NOON
26 Jan, 2012 12:20 PM

A MAJOR resort and residential development at Cape Bauer worth $50 million has been postponed due to the current economic climate.

The proposal to build an eco-tourism resort and 300 rural living allotments 15 kilometres northwest of Streaky Bay was identified as a major project by the State Government in 2009.

The delayed development will include conference facilities, a restaurant, swimming pool, shop, hotel/motel accommodation and villas when it eventually gets underway.

It will include habitat restoration on 675 hectares of costal dunes and 53 hectares of mallee and tea tree scrub.

Link to the West Coast Sentinel online:

http://www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/news/local/news/general/development-postponed/2433813.aspx

Link to Government information on the Development proposal:

http://sa.gov.au/subject/Housing,+property+and+land/Building+and+development/Building+and+development+applications/Major+development+applications+and+assessments/Major+development+proposals/Cape+Bauer+Ecotourisim+Resort,+Streaky+Bay