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Parliamentary Inquiry into Tomalpin
In April, 2004 the NSW Upper House decided to hold a Standing Committee inquiry into the HEZ rezoning.
The Inquiry took place at Kurri Kurri on June 16th 2004 and in Sydney July 2nd 2004. Read the transcripts: 16/6, 2/7.
General Purpose Standing Committee No.5, NSW Legislative Council will look into the "Environment Assessment Process" used by Cessnock Council and the State Government to get the Tomalpin bushland rezoned for industrial use.
See Friends of Tumblebee submission to the Inquiry.
HISTORY
The Tomalpin Industrial Estate or Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ) has been planned by Cessnock Council for at least 6 years - it is a prime example of how narrow-minded political grandstanding and the profit motive can come together to give the citizens of NSW and Australia an extraordinarily bad result.
There is a real need for a Public Inquiry to explain how the processes which are supposed to protect the public and the environment have been massaged to allow this industrial estate to proceed.
The 900 ha Tomalpin Estate is one of the biggest Industrial Estates in Australia. It has been visioned as an important plank in the ability of the Hunter Valley to attract large international industry and thereby provide jobs and economic growth. Paradoxically, the poor planning and poor choice of site might well result in the Hunter Valley losing potential industries to other countries or states.
WHY AN INQUIRY?
*There has never been an independant assessment of the site.
The Consultant engaged by Cessnock Council to assess all the public objections as well as State Government concerns, was contractually obliged to get the industrial land rezoned "in accordance with the time line for the project".
We believe the processes of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which are designed to provide objective planning assessment have been abused.
*The State Government has interfered with its own Department.
The Premiere's Department has asked the National Parks Service to "ensure that there can be no credible claim that a large scale industrial park....is put at risk"
This seems to be interference from the Premier's Department in what the National Parks Service is required to do by law - ie. evaluate and protect threatened species. There are 28 threatened species occurring in the area planned for industrial use - this is more than most National Parks have.
*The Site is a poor choice.
A worse choice of locations is hard to imagine. The site is part of the largest tract of bushland left on the Hunter Valley Floor. Consequently it contains a large number of flora and fauna species - 31 of them on the Threatened List.
The site is:
- poorly serviced by roads - the RTA has previously objected to the Rezoning.
- poorly serviced for sewerage disposal and it is unclear how the site will be serviced in future.
- has recently been declared a Mine Subsidence Zone.
*There are better sites available.
There are alternative sites available including a nearby open-cut mine which is better serviced by both road and rail and has already been cleared of vegetation. Cessnock Council only considered sites totally within its own area - therefore alternative sites were overlooked.
PO Box 52 Kurri Kurri, 2327
Ph. 02 49375125 - James Ryan.