[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Catherine Hill Bay / Gwandalan “land-bribe” overturned

[Christopher Holley]

Catherine Hill Bay / Gwandalan “land-bribe” overturned

The decision by the Land and Environment Court to overturn the concept
plan approvals granted by the former Planning Minister Frank Sartor for
major residential developments at Catherine Hill Bay and Gwandalan on
the NSW central coast calls into question the relationship between the
NSW Labor government and major developers who donate money to the Labor
Party, according to Sylvia Hale, NSW Greens MP and planning
spokesperson.

“Whilst the court decision did not address the issue of political
donations it is not irrelevant that the agreement that created the
apprehension of bias in the way the Minister exercised his powers was an
agreement between the government and a major Labor Party donor. That
agreement was described as a “land-bribe” by the judge (judgement
par. 133),” Ms Hale said. 

Electoral Funding Authority figures reveal that companies associated
with the Rose Property Group, the developer behind the Catherine Hill
Bay and Gwandalan proposals have donated  over $220,000 to the NSW ALP.

“The government now has a court decision saying that a reasonable
person might conclude that the Minister was biased in making a decision.
When the decision at question was one that benefited a major party donor
the government has a major political problem.” 

“This whole exercise shows just how corrupted the planning process
can become when deals are done between Ministers and developers who are
party donors. The Court’s decision will have significant implications
for other major projects the government has approved or is in the
process of approving.”

“The only way that the government can restore confidence in this
discredited planning system is to ban all political parties and
candidates from accepting political donations from developers. Anything
less is just window-dressing,” Ms Hale said.

Many of the documents relied upon in the case came to light after the
Greens successfully moved a “call for papers” motion through the
parliament requiring the government to make public all of the internal
documents relating to the Catherine Hill Bay and Gwandalan decisions.

“I congratulate the residents and their supporters who took this
action and the Environmental Defenders Office who ran the case. It was
their persistence that brought these matters to light. The proposals
were always grossly inappropriate and the court decision is a wonderful
victory for an important part of the state’s coast,” Ms Hale said.  

 
 Further information: Chris Holley 0437 779 546