A community campaign against plans by a property developer to raze a forest on the bushfire-ravaged NSW South Coast has gained celebrity support, but that hasn't stopped work commencing.
Residents of Manyana have been protesting plans by Ozy Homes to clear 20 hectares of unburnt mature growth forest to make way for nearly 180 housing lots.
They oppose the development given so much local bushland has recently been burned.
The campaign gained support from Australian actor Claudia Karvan on Monday.
"It's the last piece of unburnt bush in the whole area - it's a miracle it was saved from the fires," The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way star said in a video posted online by Manyana Matters.
"We urgently need the government to step up and protect what's left.
"This represents a possibility of renewal after the fires and of hope entrusted in our governments to do the right thing."
Ozy Homes was due to start clearing the forest in Manyana earlier in May but paused work following the outcry, Manyana Matters has said.
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes agreed to an online meeting on May 13 with representatives from Shoalhaven City Council and Ozy Homes.
But the developer appears to be now pushing ahead with initial works.
"This morning Ozy Homes have made it clear they will ignore that they will be impacting threatened species post-fire and have begun work on the Manyana Beach Estate," Manyana Matters said in a statement.
Flatbed trucks delivered fencing which workers unloaded, the group said, adding: "The Manyana community is ready to stand up against this."
Approval for the project was granted in 2008, meaning Mr Stokes or the secretary of the planning department are only able to issue a stop-work order if a consent condition is breached.
The minister has previously said he'd instructed the department to "keep a close eye on compliance as work commences".
Manyana Matters has engaged the Environmental Defenders Office to act on their behalf with letters sent to federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and the director of Ozy Homes in mid-May.
The community group wants the development referred to Ms Ley for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act over concerns it could impact a number of threatened species including the critically endangered swift parrot.
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May 25, 2020 at 11:52AM
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Celeb support to save NSW unburnt forest - 7NEWS.com.au
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