Greens candidate for Swansea, Phillipa Parsons, has challenged the denial of property developers, Buildev and the member for Swansea, Robert Coombes that donations to the NSW Labor Party have influenced planning decisions.
“Buildev is quoted in Newcastle Herald (17/3/11) as stating that developer donations to political parties were banned before this development proposal process began. Conversely, I have the 18 page document entitled ‘Blacksmiths/Swansea: commercial development opportunity expression of interest, Buildev group: December 2009.’ Developer donations were not legislated against until 2010,” Ms Parsons said.
“It is just too coincidental that Buildev donated money to NSW Labor twice in 2009, the same year they submitted their Expression of Interest to develop the foreshores of Swansea Channel in Blacksmiths and Swansea.
The amount donated is way over and above what they donated to the Liberals in the same year. From January to June 2009 Buildev donated $45,000 to NSW Labor and between June and December 2009 they again made a donation, this time of $30,000. Compare this with the relatively paltry sum of $13,000 donated in 2009 to the Liberals,” she said.
Mr Coombes is now singing the praises of Buildev’s Expression of Interest, despite the current zonings of the sites being primary conservation and public open space, and with ecological concerns about one. Mr Coombes has stated that the process was open and transparent but I challenge him to present a coherent argument of how this overdevelopment can be substantiated. We certainly do not need another marina in Lake Macquarie to fulfill any community need,” she said.
“Yet, consistent with the modus operandi of this developer-friendly government this proposal will most likely be classified as ‘state significant.’ This means it will be dealt with solely by the State government under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning Act, as has the development proposal at Catherine Hill Bay. This of course, means that Lake Macquarie City Council and the community will be ridden over roughshod once again by this Labor government.”
About Me
- Phillipa Parsons
- I am a Greens councillor on Lake Macquarie City Council. I am also the Greens candidate for Swansea in this upcoming 2011 NSW state election. My biggest motivator is ensuring sustainability. This must be the key word in decision making at all levels of government. We need investment in renewable 'clean' energy sources and begin a just transition from dirty coal that pollutes the air, affects the health of entire communities and contributes to climate chaos globally. We need to ensure that we protect our communities from over-developments and protect public space. We need to ensure public education and health are top of the list of funding priorities. I appreciate feedback so don't hold back if you have something constructive to contribute! The biggest question we all need to ask ourselves is "what will you tell your grandchildren you did to address these issues?"