By
ALEX ARNOLD
KIAMA MP
Matt Brown says job creation is the reason behind his support for the
controversial development proposed for Killalea State Park.
In
recent weeks the NSW Government has come under pressure to justify backing the
project, with Greens MP Sylvia Hale describing the support for the proposal as
"a death wish".
According
to Department of Planning documents signed by Mariner Financial's Bill Ireland,
the Killalea Coastal Developments proposal for 106 lodges and associated
facilities is valued at $35 million.
The
company forecasts the creation of 150 full-time construction jobs and 80
full-time jobs post-completion.
The
Killalea saga has now dragged on for a number of years, but Mr Brown said the
global financial crisis had impacted on the ability of companies behind the
project to move forward.
"High
unemployment is the biggest issue facing our region ... we all need to find a
way to stimulate our economy and create more jobs," Mr Brown said.
However
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said when it came to Killalea
"jobs is not an argument" and a green ban remained on the site.
"A
helluva lot more jobs could be created by focusing on maintenance, things that
improve access and construction of community facilities," Mr Rorris said.
"That
can be done with Killalea in public hands ... you do not have to sell it off to
a developer to create and maintain jobs there."
Meantime
questions remain over the ability of Mariner to sell what the company describes
as its "Killalea property".
Director-general
of the Department of Lands Warwick Watkins told a parliamentary hearing legal
advice was being sought to determine if this would make the development
agreement with the Killalea State Park Trust null and void.
"There
is no intention, from my understanding of the trust - and certainly no intention
on the part of the department - to do anything other than to achieve the best
outcome in this area for the public generally."
Illawarra Mercury – 29 September 2009
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 Photos of Killalea State Park - Photos of Killalea State Park taken by a descendant of Edward & Maria Killalea.
Return to Killalea Index - Additional Killalea family information.