GEORGES RIVER BUSHLAND ANNOUNCEMENT ATTACKED
Friday, 24 September 2004 10:00
Conservationists have attacked the Federal Member for Hughes, Dana Vale for announcing negotiations for the sale of publicly owned bushland along the Georges River to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which they have been campaigning to have transferred immediately at no cost.
Total Environment Centre (TEC) Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said "This is publicly owned bushland which environment and community groups are simply seeking to have transferred from one level of government to another. Taxpayers should not have to pay for land they already own".
The land is a former military reserve between Alfords Point and Sandy Point on the banks of the Georges River. It adjoins the Georges River National Park and is home to Quolls, Koalas and other threatened species, as well as significant Aboriginal Heritage.
Its conservation value has been acknowledged by the Federal Government. An alliance of environment and community groups have been campaigning for several years to have the land transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at no cost, however, the Commonwealth has always appeared determined to sell the land at full market value.
"Dana Vale's announcement can hardly been seen as a victory for the environment or residents. It appears, in fact, that little if anything has changed. This announcement won't to close the door on sale to developers if negotiations between the State and Federal Governments are unsuccessful", Mr Martin said.
A precedent for transfer to the State Government at no cost has already been set with seven former defence sites around Sydney Harbour. These sites were preserved in the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. When the Trust was established it was announced that at least some of these sites would eventually be transferred to the State Government
"Residents along the Georges River deserve the same deal as that done for former defence land around Sydney Harbour. It's time for the Federal Government to stop playing political games and simply transfer the land to the NSW NPWS", Mr Martin said.
For further information
Contact
:
Leigh Martin - Urban Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/
