Green ban hits Killalea
Union wants details on lease
By SARAH ALLELY
AUSTRALIA'S largest construction union has slapped an interim green ban on any development of Killalea State Park until "satisfactory answers" are provided by the State Government on the process and plans.
Peter Zaboyak, assistant secretary of the NSW branch of the Construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, said the decision was made in light of the Government's refusal to hand over documents in Parliament this week which relate to the agreement to lease land at Killalea.
He said the green ban would last until the community had been adequately briefed on the plans and process of the proposed development so far.
Mr Zaboyak said the interim ban could turn into a full green ban, which would stop any construction work on the tourism resort at Killalea. He said it was not a bluff, and pointed to previous "successful" green bans implemented by the union.
The maritime building at Circular Quay in Sydney was one, and the Regent Theatre in Wollongong another.
"The whole thing with Killalea is a disaster in terms of consultation," Mr Zaboyak said. "Our union is fundamentally opposed to the privatisation of public resources."
On April 30, Lands Minister Tony Kelly signed an agreement to lease three parcels of land to Killalea Coastal Investments, now a joint venture between Mariner Financial and Babcock & Brown.
The company yesterday declined to comment on the green ban. Greens MP Sylvia Hale put a motion to Parliament on Tuesday asking for all documents relating to the 52-year lease agreement to be made public. Killalea State Park Trust deputy chair Mark Luchetti said he did not want to comment on the ban, except to say the development agreement would be available on a Government website before the end of the month.
Asked why Mr Kelly did not mention this in Parliament, the Minister's spokesman said Ms Hale's motion was not about a single document, but called on 20 government departments, ministries and local government bodies to research their files.
The spokesman said he was confident the community consultation planned would "satisfy the requirements of all stakeholders".
A Department of Lands spokesman said that under Freedom of Information legislation the development agreement must be posted on the Department of Commerce website within 60 days of the April 30 signing
Illawarra Mercury - 8 June 2007
Return to "Killalea Media Index" Page - A list of all media articles found relating to Killalea State Park with links to the articles.
Return to "Killalea State Park Protest" Page - General information on what has been happening over recent months.
Return to Killalea Index - Additional Killalea family information.