THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY
A genuinely eclectic mix of local identities, surfers, coal miners, steel
workers, retirees, professionals, students, families, the employed and
unemployed, locals and blow-ins. Over the years, they have galvanized
into an unusually cohesive and culturally-enriching group. The strength
of their commitment has resulted in a 24- hour on-site picket/ information
centre which has been operating for one year. The community's Valentine's
Day (Feb. 14) blockade of earthmoving and construction equipment that
was to be brought on site (before a court hearing had finished), was done
in the face of 60 police, and security guards who toted guns and dogs.
This display of their resolve demonstrates the depth of their fury at
the manner in which this development proposal has been managed from the
outset.
SANDON
POINT ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY (SPATE)
At McCauley's beach, the Embassy is staffed 24 hours a day, and has been
in existence for over a year. Here, indigenous people have come at the
request of the most senior Law Man in NSW, 94-year old elder Uncle Guboo
Ted Thomas. Their role is to keep watch over the land- in particular,
a known sacred burial site. The Embassy's objective is to obtain United
Nations accreditation. Roy (Dootch) Kennedy is the main spokesperson
for SPATE.
STOCKLAND,
THE DEVELOPER
Stockland Constructors Pty Ltd is part of a multi-billion dollar investment
company specialising in commercial, retail and residential real estate
developments. Nick Greiner, a former NSW premier, is vice president
on Stockland's board of directors. He famously resigned as Premier as
a result of an inquiry by his very own Independent Commission Against
Corruption. After leaving politics, he accepted a position on the board
of a giant multi-national tobacco corporation- perhaps a little ironic
given his heavy personal involvement in the ground- breaking Quit Smoking
campaign. - No doubt his experience comes in handy in such a political
stoush. Stockland employee, Nick Duncan heads the Sandon Point
development project.
WOLLONGONG
CITY COUNCIL (WCC)
(Till Recently, ruled by the Labor Party)
Historically of dubious repute, the council was taken to the Land & Environment
Court by Stockland for not approving their development within a set time
limit. The council is headed by mayor George Harrison who was declared
to be 'unconscionable and was willing to lie under oath' by a State court
in a separate matter. The council is also in dispute with Ray Hannah,
a multi-million-dollar purchaser of additional land at Sandon Point. (His
land was previously owned by ex-mayor, Frank Arkell.) Hannah claims
that Council revoked the zoning approval for a caravan park and housing
estate that they "guaranteed" him at purchase. This particular part of
the Sandon Point site was subsequently acknowledged to be regularly flood
and sea-affected and as such, is undevelopable. As of March '02, the status
of Ray Hannah's land remains unresolved.
THE SKELETONS
A fully intact, ceremonial grave of great cultural significance was archaeologically
exhumed following its discovery in the McCauley's beach dunes, after a
big storm in March 1998. It contained a perfectly undisturbed skeleton,
surrounded by ceremonial and sacred objects. This man was a Kuradji
('Clever fella'), buried up to 6000 years ago. Another skull was
discovered 30 years earlier, by amazingly, the same sharp-eyed residents
who spotted the Kuradji's grave. There is local knowledge of up to 8 more
skeletons having been dug up during the installation of sewerage pipes
in the 1970s. The trail of their whereabouts has, for the moment, gone
cold.
OTHER
INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN THE AREA
Five major and four minor groups lay claim to having sacred and enduring
cultural links to the site. These groups do not always see eye-to-eye,
due to familial ties and other political differences.
SOUTH
COAST LABOUR COUNCIL (SCLC)
The area's governing union body placed a black ban on the Stockland site
in March last year. SCLC leaders, Arthur Rorris & Peter Wilson
also acted as go-betweens during the recent community blockade of the
site.
NSW GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS
The following state authorities are involved in granting permission for
development of the site: National Parks & Wildlife (NPWS); Minister: Bob
Debus, Dept of Land & Water Conservation (DLWC); Minister: Kim
Yeadon, Dept. of Urban Affairs & Planning (DUAP)- [now called Planning
NSW]; Minister: Andrew Refshauge (Deputy Premier). Despite years
of recommendations that have been consistent in their content, these departments
are suddenly conveying changes in their advice regarding Sandon Point.
This, coupled with the unwillingness to prosecute Stockland over laws
they have already breached on site, has placed question marks over their
ability to oversee any proposed development.
THE STATE
GOVERNMENT (LABOR)
Ruled by Bob Carr, this government subscribes to a policy of urban
consolidation. This policy is driven primarily by a lobby group of property
developers who are most generous with their 'electoral' donations. Stockland
is an active member of this lobby group, and is no slouch when it comes
to smoothing the financial ride of any political party. The recent buyback
announcement of a site earmarked for development at Balmain proves that
the State government does have the power to intervene at Sandon Point.
THE FACILITATION
PROCESS
In September last year, the South Coast Labour Council instigated a round-table
dispute resolution forum. It is supported by the Deputy Premier and is
chaired by Rick Farley, an experienced negotiator. Representatives
from Stockland, the community, SPATE, Wollongong Council, & SCLC agreed
to participate in an attempt to 'find a way forward' in the stalemate
situation. The fate of this forum is unclear at present, due to Stockland's
attempt to start construction work at the site in mid-February.
THE LOCAL
STATE (LABOR) MEMBER
David Campbell was previously mayor of the local council that oversaw
the controversial rezoning of the entire Sandon Point site for residential
use. His recent denouncement in state parliament, of the development and
zoning policies of the current local council, indicates he is beginning
to feel some political heat in his previously safe seat. (A 9% swing was
recorded against him in the 1999 state election.)
THE LOCAL
FEDERAL (LABOR) MEMBER
A historically safe political seat has allowed Dr Stephen Martin
to be locally ineffectual and 'fiddle while Rome burns'. The recently-held
national election saw him suffer the nation's largest swing of votes against
a sitting member. (He had to resort to preferences for the first time
ever.) Prior to the last Federal election he had been heard to mumble
unfamiliar words sounding something like 'constituency' and 'representation',
although having (just) survived the election his lips are beginning to
once again grow over.
'BACK
TO BULLI' SECESSION MOVEMENT
This is a separate, but closely related issue. Wollongong Council's lack
of effective response to residents' concerns of unsuitable developments
in their area has resulted in the drive to create a new local council,
based on the area covered by the old Bulli Shire. Along with other issues,
the council's underhanded and shoddy handling of the Sandon Point proposal
has been a major contributor to residents' burgeoning support for secession.
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