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FRE
January 15, 2014
Your independent local newspaper
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Issue 74
Calga sand quarry expansion approval creates uproar he NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) approved the Rocla sand quarry at Calga on Christmas Eve, just hours before they closed up shop for their holidays.
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According to Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park general manager Ms Tassin Barnard, the NSW PAC said they considered the quarry’s impact on water, endangered animals, plants and ecosystems, the Aboriginal cultural landscape and ecotourism, and were happy to allow the quarry to proceed anyway. “They have declined a small part of the proposed operation, but approved the rest,” said Ms Barnard. Ms Barnard said that the Planning Department had completely disregarded Walkabout Park’s submissions that detailed the risks to Walkabout Park’s operations, including a $10 million new Gondwana Safari Park that would bring 90 new jobs to the Central Coast. “They think we will just have a good cry and then all get back in our boxes. “Well that’s not the way it’s going to work this time. “We have 28 days to appeal the decision and take it to the Land and Environment Court, and we will. “We have taken legal advice and are confident that the PAC’s decision will not stand up to legal scrutiny. “We understand the time and the financial risks involved but we are sick of the NSW Planning Department acting like it is above the law; it is not.
“It is time that the community took them on to show them that they are as much bound by the law as the rest of us,” said Ms Barnard. The planning process allows for a Land and Environment Court appeal within 28 days of a decision being made. “The PAC conveniently made their decision on December 23, and published it on December 24. “With the PAC closed until January 13, the Environmental Defender’s Office closed until January 6, politicians and lawyers all away on their Christmas breaks, and the community wanting to spend time with their families, the deadline of January 20 for launching an appeal is barely possible. “The NSW Planning Department has destroyed three of the last seven Christmases. “Rocla’s original Development Application in
2009, then their Preferred Project Plan in 2012, both hundreds of pages long, were released for community comment just before Christmas. “Doing this yet again smacks of bully tactics or, at the very least, complete disregard for the rights of the community,” said Ms Barnard. A PAC community meeting was held on November 18 which saw over 200 people attend and heard 33 registered speakers present concerns or opposition to the expansion of the quarry. Our Land Our Water Our Future Inc (OLOWOF) president Mr Paul Robert Burton said if the expansion was approved, the state government would be effectively declaring a civil rights war on its own community. “What is the benefit to the Central Coast Community?” Mr Burton asked. “This decision will have a
massive impact on so many people. “Under the previous Labor government, the planning system related to resources in NSW was dysfunctional and heavily favoured the resource sector; the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has now shown it was corrupt as well. “The current Coalition government that was elected on its promise to rectify this situation has continued to use and expand on this same discredited planning system. “The PAC’s own information about the quarry expansion is a bucket full of holes with many unanswered questions and incorrect information about water allocation licenses. “Rocla’s own statement of ‘a most thorough investigation by competent people’, will most certainly be challenged,” claimed Mr Burton. Following on the back of a merit appeal from the
groups that submitted to the PAC, OLOWOF will also be lodging a court case against the existing quarry. “In matters like these, we have a legal system to determine the truth and I am convinced there are significant issues with Rocla, the NSW Office of Water (NOW) and the state government,” claimed Mr Burton. “As a united community we cannot believe this appalling situation and we have been forced to initiate a massive community campaign. “We know this may be a long hard battle but we are determined to fight for what is right and true and we will win. “We ask that local current Liberal representative Chris Holstein either step up and help the community he was elected to represent or resign from his position. “We also ask that all Central Coast political representatives from all parties actually represent those communities they were elected to represent. “Our political system has failed the people and we have had enough. ‘Not one local MP came to the original PAC meeting about a massive sand quarry that destroys far more than it creates. “If our elected representatives will not help, then the community will have to do their job for them.” Mr Burton announced that Camp Quoll was established on New Years’ Eve as an educational facility and peaceful direct action site in the vicinity of the Rocla Calga quarry. Community groups who
have established Camp Quoll, named after one of the threatened species known to inhabit the area of the proposed quarry expansion, are working in close contact with the police and other social services in this matter and plan to use the highest principles of Peaceful Direct Action (PDA). “A community cannot survive without its water, agricultural land, air, flora, fauna and its cultural connection with each other. “Despite the government’s false claims of significant local economic benefit, there is no long term benefit to the Central Coast community and ultimately there is no economy without an environment. “We invite all the Central Coast community to join this peaceful direct action. “Many are not even aware of the huge level of industrialisation planned for our region. “It’s not just about the sand quarry, it’s also the about Wallarah 2 long wall coal mine (threatening the water supply for over 350,000 Central Coast residents), the Mandalong long wall coal mine and Coal Seam Gas licenses across the entire Central Coast region including the ocean. It is about the entire Central Coast and our fundamental human right to protect our land our water and our future.” Media release, 8 Jan 2014 Paul Robert Burton, Our Land Our Water Our Future Media release, 31 Dec 2013 Tassin Barnard, Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park