This Neighbourhood Committee 3 newsletter is to inform you of some of
the latest news in our local area and of the community issues being raised
at the committee.
Support
for Aboriginal Heritage
The WCC meeting on 25th November agreed:
1.
to urge the NSW govt to join with Council to seek a court injunction to
stop all work at Sandon Point to pass legislation to preserve the Aboriginal
heritage at Sandon Point, (including Stages 1-6).
2.
Not to support Stockland's request to take action to remove the Sandon
Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy or the Sandon Point Picket.
Commission
of Inquiry
As a result of the last public meeting held at Sandon Point on Saturday
24 August the government has conceded and announced a Commission of
Inquiry into the 'balance of the site' in October 2002. Community
input on the terms of Reference for the Inquiry has been requested. It
seems likely that proceedings will not commence before 2003.
Regional Coastal Park
In view of the threat from continuing site work, the community has asked
that the first part of the Illawarra Regional Park at Sandon Point be
established, by resuming:
- All land within 40 metres of all creeks and wetlands, as requested
by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Commissioner William
Simpson and the Sydney Coastal Councils Group
- all areas of Aboriginal cultural significance, including burial sites
tool-making sites, camp-sites and midden areas
- the former Sydney Water land, which was sold against public wishes,
and partially bought back by Wollongong City Council
- the entire AIR site, for restoration of the original wetlands to protect
upstream residents from flooding.
Buy Back
Funding Needed
A buy back of this significant land is affordable at Sandon Point. Independent
valuation has stated that the "en globo" value of the Aust Industrial
Refractories (AIR) land, which is the northern part of the Sandon Point
site, is $16 million, a vast difference from the $100M estimates suggested
by the state government.
Aboriginal
Heritage
The Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, (SPATE) commissioned a report
from Professor Peter Hiscock (ANU) which has confirmed the National significance
of the site. (the report is available on the website: http://www.sandon-point.org.au).
Legislation
is inadequate for the protection of Aboriginal heritage and changes should
be made to the National Parks and Wildlife legislation which requires
proper and meaningful consultation with recognised Aboriginal groups and
Aboriginal elders before S 90 consents to allow destruction of Aboriginal
heritage sites can be granted.
Wrexham
Road and Gibson Park
At the last Sandon Point public meeting it was resolved that no public
land is to be used by the developer to gain access to the AIR site. Wrexham
Road is not to be used as access to the proposed residential development.
Wollongong
Council is still pursuing unacceptable options that require part of Gibson
Park to provide access for Stockland's development. Court Actions to save
The Point Here's a brief summary of the current Sandon Point legal situation:
1. Class
4 Land and Environment Court Action: Allan Carriage (Local Aboriginal
Elder) is taking court action against Stocklands, NPWS, DLWC and WCC.
The preliminary hearing result is a successful injunction over the AIR
site (northern part of the site) for Breaches of the EPA Act for work
without development consent and under Section 90 of NPW Act for no permit.
Now proceed to full hearing on the whole application.
2. In the
Supreme Court Allan Carriage has lodged Caveats on all land owned by Stockland
including Stages 1 - 6. Whilst the caveats stay no land sales can take
place. Allan Carriage is claiming equitable interest in the Aboriginal
objects existing on the land. Stockland has taken the proceedings to the
Supreme Court to remove the caveats and it has been adjourned until 3
December.
Potential
Court Action:
- Cooksons are threatening to sue Council for rezoning their land from
Heavy Industry to Light Industry.
- 80 jobs at Cookson's are threatened by the Stockland housing development
because of noise impacts on houses to be built within metres of the
factory.
- Wollongong City Council threatens to sue Stockland over Stage 7.
- Stockland threat to sue Council over Sandon Point Picket and the SPATE
embassy.
Sandon
Point DCP Review Committee
Following on from the Rick Farley led facilitation Process Committee,
the Wollongong City Council Development Control Plan (DCP) Review Committee
commenced to review the DCP for the Sandon Point area including Gibson
Park.
This has
the potential to impact on a large area of Thirroul. Issues being considered
include traffic options for Stockland's development and access to Thirroul
Station through Gibson Park and McCauley Park.
Neighbourhood
Committee 3 is represented by Cate Wilson and Ross Dearden and the other
Community representatives are Michael Organ and Alex Peterson. Community
Workshops were held on 10 September 2002 and from Wed 11th to Friday 13th
September 2002, although because of the dates chosen and because they
were held during normal working hours, most of the representatives were
not able to participate.
Since then
the committee has been meeting almost every Wednesday evening and a site
meeting with residents was held on 23 October at Wrexham Road / Gibson
Park.
The consultants,
Dickson Rothchild, have now produced a draft DCP for comment by the Steering
Committee. It will be on public exhibition at a later stage in the process,
but talk to one of the community reps now for more information, or to
voice your concerns.
Contacts & Community Meetings
McCauley Park Progress Association
Meeting to discuss action to prevent loss of public land in east
Thirroul and concerns for Sandon Point DPC access proposals. Sunday
15th Dec at McCauley Park, 4.30 pm, outside 1/1 Seabreeze Place.
BYO chair etc. (The street are having a bit of a Xmas get together
afterward). For information contact President Alison Fettell, Ph
4268 0993
Gibson
Park / Thirroul Station access
& Thirroul Leagues Club proposal
Come to the McCauley Park Meeting on 15 Dec Contact Meryn and David
at 23 Station Street, Thirroul Ph:- 4268 0033 or twosocs@yahoo.com;
Or Vanessa: nessybegood@hotmail.com
Headlands Community Action Group
The Headlands Hotel proposal is another residential "over-development"
and it should be in accordance with the Coastal Policy. For more
information contact spokesperson Steve Allen, Ph 4267 3493; email
Sallen@dlwc.nsw.gov.au.
Farrell
Road Beach Bungey Proposal
The Committee is concerned that this DA is an inappropriate use
of beachfront open space. Informal Planning Conference (IPC) has
been agreed, but no date has been set for the meeting until further
information is provided to Council.
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Sandon
Point
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
has been on site at McCauleys Beach for 2 years in December. A celebration
at the embassy will be held on Sunday 15th December.
All Welcome.
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Neighbourhood
Committee 3 meets at 7:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Thirroul
Senior Citizens Hall. Because of Christmas the next meeting will be early,
on Tuesday, 10th December. The first meeting in 2003 will be on
Tuesday 21th January.
Come to the
meetings and contribute
Terry
Sands, Convenor
Ross Dearden, Secretary Neighbourhood Committee 3
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updates]
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