Extra dwelling for 'conservation'

Gosford Council is considering rezoning a Pearl Beach property to allow an extra dwelling, in the interests of conservation.
The property is currently under a Conservation and Scenic Protection zoning.
The owner of the Crystal Avenue property has requested the re-zoning to enable him to build a two lot residential property.
The existing property would be divided into three lots with the third lot forming a wildlife corridor between the Crommelin Biological Research Station and its Arboretum and Brisbane Water National Park.
The proposal is strongly supported by the Aboretum’s owners, The University of Sydney.
Pearl Beach Progress Association supports the landowner, but voted unanimously that if the property is ever sold that Council should purchase it for future addition to the Aboretum.
Gosford Council says at current market rates of about $800,000, the property would be too expensive for them to buy.
The ongoing management of the wildlife corridor would probably be undertaken by Sydney University.