More
time for Killalea resort plan
By
ALEX ARNOLD
KILLALEA
State Park Trust has granted Mariner Financial an extension to allow the company
time to get its controversial resort development application approved.
However,
the sunset date for a start to construction on the proposed 106-lodge tourist
development within Killalea State Park remains March 31, 2011.
Trust
chair Ed Gilmore said Mariner's managing director Bill Ireland had asked for an
extension of time for approval to be granted and the trust believed that was
fair and reasonable.
Mr
Gilmore said delays relating to issues with the Department of Planning and the
global financial crisis were beyond Mariner's control.
He said
Mariner remained committed to the project and now had until January 2011 to get
approval for the project.
As for
Mariner's comments that it had "verbally agreed" to sell its
shareholding in Killalea Coastal Investments Ltd to a third party, Mr Gilmore
said there was nothing to stop Mr Ireland's company selling up to 49 per cent of
the company, but Mariner needed to remain the principal shareholder.
Killalea
State Park will be within the boundaries of the Gilmore electorate at the next
federal election.
"Although
it is a state issue I do inherit the area so to speak," Mrs Gash said.
"And
although I am in a way pro-development, I cannot support development in
Killalea, especially when there is so little free space like it in the area.
Having seen it for myself, it didn't take long to see the beauty of
Killalea."
Kiama MP
Matt Brown, who has clashed with Mrs Gash on numerous issues over the years and
can now add Killalea to the list, said Mrs Gash's comments showed
"desperation" as she continued to "confuse federal and state
issues".
"The
real issue is protection of environmentally sensitive areas, an income stream to
manage the park and the creation of quality facilities for park users," Mr
Brown said.
Illawarra Mercury – 14 November 2009
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