On 16 October the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on the preferred land uses, planning outcomes and management options for certain land at Sandon Point, having regard to its values and constraints in the broader context of the surrounding urban and non urban environment were publicly released. The report was sent to Craig Knowles, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, in September.

The COI found that the Sandon Point area 'has significant inherent cultural, ecological and social values' that are too important to compromised by both the Stockland Masterplan and Wollongong City Council's Development Control Plan. It has recommended significant protection measures, and sweeping changes to the Stockland proposal, vindicating the community's 15 year campaign to protect the area.

The recommendations include:

The final outcome of the Commission of Inquiry now rests with the Minister. As consent authority, he has the power to accept or reject the findings.

With the findings of the Commission of Inquiry now public, and the damning indictment of both Stockland and Wollongong City Council, we can celebrate a partial victory. However, the campaign to save and protect Sandon Point is far from over. It needs to be noted that the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (many of which are contradictory) are just that - findings and recommendations. Craig Knowles, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, is consent authority.

Whilst the damming indictment of Stockland and Wollongong City Council by the Commission of Inquiry has vindicated the 15-year campaign to save and protect, a lot needs to be done before the community visions for the area will come to fruition. Whilst the Commission of Inquiry recommends sweeping changes, and the rezoning of substantial sections of the Sandon Point area to 7(a) Special Environmental Protection, it states that the construction of 3 storey apartment buildings is suitable - in spite of its stated need for more studies to be undertaken to assess the potential and likely impacts.

The contradictory nature of the Commission of Inquiry are apparent in recommendations for the protection of ecological communities and creek/riparian corridors. Buffer zones of up to 100m are recommended, yet the southern bank of tramway creek, including the Sydney Coastal Estuarine Swamp Forest Complex (SCESFC) community, are explicitly excluded from these recommendations.

Aside from the contradictory nature of the findings and recommendations Craig Knowles, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, as consent authority, has the power to decide whether the recommendations are adopted, dismissed or ignored. You don't have to think to far back for an example: the outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry into the Illawarra Escarpment - also containing many positive outcomes, including a minimum setback of 40m from all creek banks - have yet to be implemented.

Less than a week after the public release of the of the Commission of Inquiry, Stockland are already undertaken works without consent and in direct contravention to its findings and recommendations.