[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Greens Win Currawong Vote

[Christopher Holley]

Greens Win Currawong Vote

The government was defeated today in its attempt to stop the NSW Upper
House passing a resolution calling for the immediate heritage listing of
the Currawong site on Pittwater and its protection from a proposed
residential sub-division.

The motion was moved as a matter of urgency by Greens MP Sylvia Hale
and was carried 22 votes to 16.

Ms Hale described the Currawong saga as ” a disgraceful saga of
backroom deals between party insiders and their mates with a big dollop
of political donations to help the wheels go around.”

“The financial, political and personal connections between the
proponents of the development of the site and prominent members of the
NSW ALP give rise to serious public concerns about why Currawong has not
been heritage listed,” Ms Hale told the parliament.

Ms Hale told the parliament that a company, KWC Capital, part-owned by
the developers behind the proposal to build 25 mansions on the Currawong
site, donated $44,000 to the ALP in a key period in 2006 and 2007. 

“The deal to sell Currawong to Linz and Litver’s development
company was concluded in February 2007.  NSW Electoral Funding Authority
returns reveal that Mr Linz’s KWC Capital donated $15,000 to the NSW
ALP on the 12th of February 2007 and a further $24,000 just two weeks
later on the 2nd of March 2007. Money that was no doubt very handy for
the ALP in the final weeks of its campaign for the 24 March state
election.”  

“The government saw the writing on the wall yesterday and changed its
position on Callan Park; it should do the same today and add Currawong
to the state heritage register immediately.”

“Listening to the community on issues like Currawong and Callan Park
and repealing the discredited Part 3A of the Planning Act is the only
way for the government to find its way back into the community’s
confidence,” Ms Hale said.

Further information: Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546