Killalea result 'triumph' ... or 'clever ploy'
By MICHELLE HOCTOR
A SURVEY has shown the community is almost split down the middle on a proposal for an eco-resort at Killalea State Park.
Findings released by the Illawarra Regional Information Service showed 53% of respondents opposed the development outright, while 47% could either live with it (26%) or supported it (21%).
While developer Killalea Coastal Investments said the result was a triumph given the immense publicity against the development, the South Coast Labour Council dismissed it as "intellectually dishonest".
The survey was commissioned to gauge response to plans for 202 residential lodges, tennis courts, restaurants and a conference centre proposed for a section of the park. Also included is a sealed road to the beach, new parking area, nature trails, walkways, and cycle tracks, a new education centre and kiosk.
Conducted on June 18-20, the survey found most Shellharbour and Kiama residents were aware of the proposal, although 33% could not describe any of it.
Reasons for opposition included wanting to retain the pristine state of the park (40%) and a belief development was not needed (11%).
Of the supporters, 40% believed it would be good for tourism and the area.
While the proposed eco-resort offers additional facilities and amenities for the community, the level of interest was extremely low. Forty-two per cent would use a kiosk or cafe, but 60% were unlikely to use a restaurant, 73% a conference centre and 81% a gym/day spa.
Around 75% of residents had visited the park in the past three years, most (77%) on weekends. Fourteen per cent visited 14 times a year or more.
The most popular activities were relaxing (58%), picnics (53%), walking (51%) and surfing (45%).
Claims that residents overwhelmingly rejected a usage fee for the park were contradicted with only 56% of respondents voting against a proposed $7 to $10 per car, as in other state parks.
A spokesman for Killalea Coastal Investments said the most apparent outcome of the survey was the almost 50/50 split in public opinion on the development.
"The survey shows 47% of people were not opposed. Given the high level of publicity, it's an interesting result," he said.
He was not perturbed by the low support for the proposed resort facilities.
"Once people see the quality and nature of the resort, I am confident more people will use it."
Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris dismissed it as an exercise in "tricky" statistics. "The questions are a clever statistical ploy to cloud the issue," he said.
"Rather than giving people a yes or no option, they have thrown a bit in the middle to confuse the issue. But even with that ploy, the majority of people were still opposed."
Awareness of proposal
Key findings:
· Eight in 10 residents are aware of the development proposal.
· Residents who don't visit the park are significantly less likely to be aware of the development proposal.
Of those residents aware of the proposal:
· one in three were unable to describe the proposed development,
· 17% provided a tourism-related description,
· 14% believed it involved the construction of cabins, huts or cottage-style buildings,
· 12% believed a resort was being proposed.
Support for proposal
Key findings:
· 21% of residents support the proposal, 26 per cent believe they could live with it and 53 per cent oppose it.
· Support differs by age group and park usage with 18- to 34-year-olds more likely to say they could live with it and the 55+ age group more likely to oppose it.
· Heavy users of the park are more likely to oppose the proposal and low users of the park are more likely to support it.
Access charge for park
Key findings:
· Just over half indicated they believed an access charge should not be applied to assist in the maintenance and operation of the park.
· Only one-third of respondents who had visited the park in the past three years supported the idea of an access fee, compared to two-thirds of those who had not visited the park.
Additional facilities
Those who had visited the park were asked what type of facilities they would like to see at the park.
ADDITIONAL FACILITIES PER CENT
No change/Leave as is 13.8
BBQ, picnic and sheltered facilities 7.4
Playgrounds 3.8
Kiosk, canteen etc 3.7
Walking tracks to beach 2.8
Car park security 2.6
Road access to beach 1.9
Toilets 1.8
Seating 1.7
Car park at bottom 1.4
Maps, information, education 1.4
Disabled access/facilities 1.2
Showers 1.1
Other 4.6
No response 50.7
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