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Thursday, 15 November 2007 |
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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [12.47 p.m.]: It is a privilege to speak to the motion. In this place one is often inspired by the words and deeds of our forefathers and the people who have gone before us. As I stand here today I have been inspired by the words and actions of my friend and colleague the member for Pittwater. His passion on this issue is not just reflective of someone who cares about the environmental and cultural significance of this place; his passion reflects the community he represents. There is a burning surge of people in the community who want this site protected. He has taken on the fight and his passion is evident for all to see. He must be supported because his community demands it.
The significance of the site goes well beyond the community. On Wednesday last week the Heritage Council deemed Currawong to be of State heritage significance. It met five of the seven criteria when it only needed to meet one criterion. Manly Cemetery applied for State heritage listing and it did not meet any of the seven criteria, notwithstanding the many people who have been buried in that cemetery and its architecture. Currawong got almost a slam-dunk in terms of its heritage significance. North Head is a good example of where the battle has been lost. Large portions of North Head have been developed and it is a blight on this Government. The Minister and the Government have an opportunity to stop the same thing happening to Currawong. I ask them to protect the cultural, Aboriginal and natural heritage of the site. I ask the Minister and even the member for Monaro to walk on the beaches at Currawong and to see some of the coral trees and wildlife there.
Mr Steve Whan: Can I go now?
Mr MIKE BAIRD: You can go now. The heritage listing was a victory for the community. The Friends of Currawong, who care passionately about this area, have played a critical role. Pittwater council and the member for Pittwater have also played a critical role in fighting the planned development of the site. Currawong is in the process of being sold by its owners, Unions New South Wales. The development application is not about replacing the existing 10 buildings; it is about building an additional 25 luxury houses. This amounts to overdevelopment wherever it is, let alone on a site of such significance. The community acknowledges that the site is of great environmental significance. Given its independent heritage listing, the site is clearly of great State significance.
I feel the need to touch on the conflict of interest that is part of this development process. The Minister for Planning has assumed control of Currawong, so his department will assess the development application, rather than the council. However, the Minister for Planning also has responsibility to act on the Heritage Council's recommendation that the entire site be listed for its heritage significance. That is a conflict. If you throw in the concept of donations, however, that is when it starts to get very murky. Last year unions donated $1.1 million to the New South Wales Labor Party. I do not imply in any way, shape or form that the Minister for Planning is part of that process, but he has a responsibility for due process in decisions of this nature. How can the people of Pittwater and the northern beaches feel that due process has been done when the development application will be decided by a Minister whose party was significantly supported by the benefactors? That is a conflict of interest that needs to be addressed.
We can talk about having independent panels, but the reality is that the people who have applied to sell the site will benefit financially and they are also in the process of having donated to the party that the Minister represents. That is a conflict of interest that needs to be addressed. Such conflict of interest is not isolated to this issue; it is systemic across the entire Government. With regard to Currawong we call on the Government to do three things. I will certainly join the member for Pittwater in the fundraiser for the Minister, if the Minister has the courage to do what is right. The Minister for Planning must accept the Heritage Council's recommendation to list the entire Currawong site on the State Heritage Register, the plans to develop the site must be abandoned, and Currawong should be added to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park immediately.
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