By MARIO CHRISTODOULOU
Labor accused of lip-service
STATE politicians were only paying lip-service to concerns about the future of Killalea State Park, a community group claimed yesterday.
The Save Killalea Alliance accused Kiama MP Matt Brown and Shellharbour MP Lylea McMahon of ignoring community concerns at a meeting on Monday.
An alliance statement described the meeting as an “exercise in formality” and accused the two Labor members of not “genuinely listening” to the community.
Mr Brown yesterday rejected the accusation, describing the 45-minute meeting as productive.
“I heard them and listened to them and am well aware of their opinion – that’s why I agreed to the meeting,” he said.
Ms McMahon said she “facilitated” the meeting but would not be drawn on her opinion of the proceedings except to say: “Residents were able to raise their issues and concerns.”
Killalea State Park is not in Ms McMahon’s electorate but some residents still had concerns about the issue which, in part, let to Monday’s meeting.
The alliance claimed the community was kept in the dark when the decision was made to lease the land.
“We have not been provided evidence that the community were informed,” said spokeswoman Sonya McKay.
Ms McKay handed over a petition at Monday’s meeting with about 15,000 signatures opposing development on the park.
Shellharbour Mayor David Hamilton yesterday accused the alliance of clouding the Killalea issue.
“I don’t think Sonya McKay has got any credibility and I will not get tied up with her,” he said.
Ms McKay, who has a law degree and has studied political science, said she was disappointed by the comments and believed there should be no personal attacks in the Killalea debate.
Illawarra Mercury - 12 September 2007
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