Killalea Lease Finally On Table

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday June 23, 2007

By SARAH ALLELY

AFTER weeks of intense lobbying from parliamentarians, community groups and surfers, the lease agreements for the proposed resort at Killalea State Park have been released.

The 342 pages of documents titled Development Lease and Development Agreement were drawn up in 2004, and made public by the State Government yesterday.

On April 30, Lands Minister Tony Kelly signed an agreement to lease three parcels of land to Killalea Coastal Investments, now a joint venture between Mariner Financial and Babcock & Brown.

There were heated scenes in Parliament on June 5 when Greens MP Sylvia Hale called for the lease agreement and related papers to be tabled, but the request was rejected on the grounds the matter was not urgent.

Representatives from the South Coast Labour Council and Save Killalea Alliance delivered a petition to Parliament that day and made representations demanding the information be released.

A few days later the Department of Lands said that as per new legislation, the contractual agreements had to be made available on government websites within 60 days of the agreement being signed.

The developer launched the first stage of its community consultation for the proposed resort yesterday. A phone survey of residents, conducted by IRIS on behalf of the developer, has begun. People can call 1800 110 055 during business hours to speak to a consultant and meetings with community groups will start within the next fortnight.

The agreement allows a maximum of 202 residential lodges as well as swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants and a conference centre.

The developer's spokesperson said $13.5 million would be paid to the Government over several years. This included an option fee of $585,000, already paid to the Killalea State Park Trust, and $250,000 to meet the trust's legal fees.

Save Killalea Alliance spokeswoman Sonya McKay said it was a concern that such a detailed agreement had been prepared before the community was consulted.

Ms McKay was also surprised the agreement stipulated a project control group, with two trust members and two developer representatives, be set up within 20 days of the agreement being signed.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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