Sent July 2003

This letter is a statement of requirement and intent
by the residents of Tyagarah, represented by the
Tyagarah Progress Association and Tyagarah Sustainable
Community Alliance, concerning the management of
Council-owned and Crown land in the Tyagarah area.

We request that in every case where Council is faced
with a decision about such land, be it a consideration
of re-zoning, sale, development or any other matter
impacting the status and use of the land, that a
decision be made which:

* gives priority to the preservation and restoration
of the natural environment, the vegetation and the
wildlife;

* facilitates the use of the land for these purposes
by local residents and supporters;

* leaves the natural vegetation and the land in both a
legal and a physical condition suitable for such
current and future projects by the local residents.

We ask that control over the use and ownership of the
land be retained by Council, Crown and Locals, and
that it not be sold to industry, whether private
enterprise- or government-based, for any purpose that
contravenes its preservation and restoration as a
natural area.

We believe that our requirements are in the best
interests of the people and the environment of the
future, and are in full accord with Council's stated
priorities for the preservation of natural heritage in
the Byron Shire, for example as enumerated under
Key Issues in the "Byron State of the Environment
Report 2000
Executive Summary", where it was stated: "At present,
demand for further settlement in the Shire represents
increased pressure on the integrity of land,
vegetation, habitat, air quality and waterways through
construction of buildings and roads, run-off, and
increased vehicular traffic and pollution." Our
requirement addresses this issue pre-emptively.

The Tyagarah Progress Association and Sustainable
Community Alliance plan to update the LAMP (Local Area
Environment Plan), based in part upon this present
statement of intent and requirement.

We are also proposing areas which we would like to see
designated officially as wildlife and vegetation
corridors. These are marked on a map attached to the
document entitled "Proposal For Vegetation and
Wildlife Corridors in Tyagarah", which will be
presented to Council in the near future. This proposal
includes a summary of current and future conservation
projects by Tyagarah locals.

We therefore offer our full support for any plans
Council may have at present or in future to set aside
land as wildlife corridors or nature reserves that
protect and link up any existing native vegetation
pockets in the Tyagarah area. We ask to be consulted
about any such plans so that we can contribute our
expertise and knowledge of the area, and apply for
relevant community grants to expand upon your work.