[Greens-Media] The Property Council plans to protect the business environment not Illawarra’s environment

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 26 September 2006

The Property Council plans to protect the business environment not Illawarra’s environment

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says the Property Council’s 'Initiatives for the Illawarra' puts the business environment, growth and profits before people, sustainability and the natural environment.
 
“The Property Council’s plan echoes the dreams of the NSW government to prioritise development in the Illawarra with virtually no thought for the natural environment,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

“Initiatives for the Illawarra does little to protect the area’s precious coastline and escarpment but shows the Property Council’s hunger to develop the natural environment to boost the industry’s profits. 
 
“The Property Council mounted an aggressive campaign early this year which saw the watering down of the sustainable planning tool, ‘BASIX’. 

“The Property Council now wants to do dodgy deals with the government to speed up development approval times, increase rebates and give the tick to increased density in return for meeting higher than mandated water and energy reduction targets. 

“The Property Council is dreaming if it believes housing affordability for working families can be addressed simply by accelerating land release and streamlining planning processes.

“The Greens do welcome the Property Council’s support for the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail line. But this line will only bring long term benefit to the region if it is a publicly owned rail line for freight and passengers.

“This document adds further strength to rumours that the NSW government may be in talks with the private sector to finish this essential piece of infrastructure as a Public Private Partnership. 

“The Inconvenient Truth is that global warming is a reality. The Illawarra is being left behind in the development of environmentally friendly, jobs rich modern industries that will boom through export growth. 
 
“The Property Council and the NSW government need to do more to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency technology which are the way to protect our environment and jobs for the future,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568 or 9230 3551


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed and alternate Mons)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au