Your say
opinion
Bring back green bans to save Killalea park
Mark Paloff slams the proposal to privatise the pristine Killalea State Park by the Lemma government (Mercury letters, May 22).
He cites the local Labor members who, with Mariner Financial, are also hell-bent on privatising this prized public recreational asset. He then cites the people's organisations opposing the sale.
Missing from that list was the South Coast Labour Council. The one which could stop the sale by imposing a green ban. Green bans were born when some Sydney residents were faced with a similar situation.
The developers had their sights on Kelly's Bush on Sydney's North Shore. When the residents' fight to save the park was ignored, they sought the help of Jack Mundey and the Builders' Labourers Federation.
The rest is history. Kelly's Bush was saved and it marked the beginning of the era of green bans. Other important sites were saved, the best known being The Rocks. An important part of our history was saved. It is also a key tourist drawcard.
It is also a reminder that in the end it is union muscle that saves the day. Wollongong badly needs it again. The green bans that were applied when Merv Nixon and Paul Matters were union leaders are needed again. The important disputes committee of the labour council should be revitalised and Killalea placed on its agenda.
Reg Wilding, Wollongong.
Illawarra Mercury - 31 May 2007 (Page 21)
Return to "Killalea Media Index" Page - A list of all media articles found relating to Killalea State Park with links to the articles.
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