6Impact on environmentally sensitive land

6 Impact on environmentally sensitive land

6.1 Impact on environmentally sensitive land

(1) The objective of this clause is to protect environmentally sensitive land by—

(a) conserving significant native vegetation communities and protecting the ecological processes necessary for the continued existence of those communities, and

(b) protecting watercourses and the riparian buffers necessary to maintain or enhance the hydrological function of those watercourses, and

(c) restricting development on steeply sloping land and protecting geological features such as rock outcrops and escarpments.

(2) Impact of development on environmentally sensitive land Development consent must not be granted for development that may have an adverse impact on environmentally sensitive land unless the consent authority is satisfied that—

(a) the natural, scenic, scientific and historical values of the “City within a World Heritage National Park” that are relevant to the development will be maintained, and

(b) the development will be managed to protect the natural environment and maintain the ecological integrity and environmental significance of the Blue Mountains, and

(c) the water quality, watercourses, groundwater quality, riparian habitats and wetlands in the Blue Mountains, Sydney’s drinking water catchment and the Hawkesbury-Nepean River catchment will be preserved and, if possible, enhanced, and

(d) the development is appropriate considering the extent and capacity of the local infrastructure, and

(e) if the development will be located on bush fire prone land, the exposure to bush fire hazard will be limited and any bush fire protection measures employed to protect human life, property and other assets are responsive to the environmental values of the land.

(3) Development near Blue Mountains National Park Development consent must not be granted for development on land that is adjacent to, directly opposite or separated only by a local road from land in the Blue Mountains National Park unless the consent authority—

(a) has considered the impact of the proposed development on the heritage significance and scenic attributes of the National Park, and

(b) is satisfied that the development incorporates effective measures to avoid, minimise or mitigate any adverse environmental impact on the land in the National Park.