[Greens-Media] Sylvia Hale MLC MR: Greens welcome Wollongong Harbour State Heritage Listing

[Colin Hesse]

5 May 2010   - For immediate use        
            
Greens welcome Wollongong Harbour 
State Heritage listing but say funding of a conservation management
plan is now an essential follow-up
 
The Greens spokesperson for Planning, Sylvia Hale MP, today welcomed
the placing of Wollongong Harbour and precinct on the State’s Heritage
Register.
 
“I congratulate local residents, the National Trust, Reclaim Our City,
the South Coast Labour Council and all the organisations that have
campaigned to bring about its listing and protect the Harbour from
unsympathetic development,” said Ms Hale.
 
“Without them, the Harbour would never have received the recognition it
undoubtedly deserves.
 
“The listing will contribute to preventing inappropriate, unsympathetic
development of the Harbour precinct, such as the plans the Department of
Lands currently has on exhibition.
 
“Any ‘adaptive re-use of the harbour or its precinct’, no matter how
limited or sympathetic, must be put on hold until a Conservation
Management Plan is in place.
 
“To do otherwise would be to put the cart before the horse and to
ignore the whole rationale for listing a precinct on the State Heritage
Register. 
 
“A Conservation Management Plan provides an indispensable framework for
determining whether or not a development is appropriate or sympathetic.
 
“It is also important to remember that Wollongong Harbour is a working
port. The public value it for its open space, its views, and its
history, but it is equally vital to fishermen, the volunteer Coastguard
service, boat owners, and the Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club. 
 
“It’s up to the Government now to put its money where its mouth is and
provide the funds necessary for the preparation of the management plan,”
said Ms Hale.
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124
 
Colin Hesse
Policy and Media Officer
Office of Sylvia Hale MLC
Parliament of NSW
 
Ph: 9230 3030
0401 719 124