Return Planning Powers back to the people

Local governments should be given back their planning powers was the view of Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon and Ms Pritchard, Lake Macquarie Mayoral and West Ward candidate.

Discussions with Morisset Park District Action Group members, opposing the Trinity Point Development were held at picturesque Bardens Bay today and support given from The Greens that the proposed Trinity Point Marina development should not proceed in its present form.

"Now that Mr Sartor has been sacked as Planning Minister this project should be taken off the list of state significant projects, which come under the Minister. It should instead be put before the new council when it is elected next Saturday. Ms Rhiannon said

"If Premier Nathan Rees wants to distance himself from dubious practices of his predecessors he would remove this donation tainted project from the Part 3A list and allow the new Lake Macquarie Council to make the decision.

"The Premier needs to be aware that the backers of this over-sized marina are major funders of the Labor Party. His clean skin reputation will not last long if does not send this project back to the local council.

" The Johnson Property group donated $334,181 to the Labor Government from 2002-2007 and $111,300 to the Liberal party.

"The new council should be allowed to make the decision on the future of this project. The new councillors represent the voice of the community and this is where the final decision should be made," Ms Pritchard said.

"This marina project could become a white elephant in a climate changing world”

"The 300-berth mega-marina would take up a large part of Bardens Bay destroying much of the aquatic environment, local fish nurseries and the local lifestyle.”

"The marina would be the largest in the State and it dwarfs Circular Quay in it size. There is nothing like it locally and it does not belong in a local backwater that receives minimal tidal exchange and is at the wrong end of the Lake for tourists and the facilities they need"

Trinity Point or Bardens Bay?

Tonight I went along to a meeting of the Morisset and District Action Group to hear about what was happening with the Trinity Point Development on Bardens Bay and share with the group what the Greens’ position is.

The Greens fully support the group in their opposition to the excessive over-development of the semi rural community. The proposal shows the marina and the heliport within 200m of existing houses and close to a retirement village. The size and bulk of the high rise apartments are unprecedented in Lake Macquarie and would set a dangerous precedent for waterside developments everywhere. This project could become a white elephant in a climate changing world and due consideration needs to be taken on the impacts of sea level rise.

• The nine multi-storey blocks of apartments up to six storeys high fringing the bay, are too high and too many
• the 300 berth mega-marina taking up much of Bardens Bay spells environmental disaster, the destruction of the aquatic environment and fish nurseries
• the heliport on the water is an excessive intrusion on all residents’ lifestyle

Additional information was provided by concerned locals on the effect of the marine fuel on the aquatic life of the bay, the toxic load from the marina would not be adequately flushed in the quiet bay that has its water movement quashed by a breakwall constructed for the marina.

The unfortunate conclusion of the meeting was that because this local development is being dealt with by the State Government under Part 3A , Frank Sartor is the last say and the local community is being excluded from the process.

The Greens have State representatives, Lee Rhianon, John Kaye, Sylvia Hale and Ian Cohen that are fighting to repeal the Part 3A legislation, the Greens are all for keeping local planning decisions at the local level.

The Johnson Property group donated $334,181 to the Labor Government from 2002-2007 and $111,300 to the Liberal party. Donations to political parties from developers distort our democracy and planning processes in favour of developer greed rather than community need. (source: www.democracy4sale.org)

Everyone at the meeting was urged to read the latest in the ever changing submission and prepare a response. More information about the development and where it is upto can be obtained from Morisset Park and District Action Group contact details are PO Box 516 Morisset 2264, mpdag@iprimus.com.au. The President is Keith Arcus 4973 4225, The Secretary is Ken Faulkes, 4973 4444.