04/06/2009

I spoke on the terrible Heritage Amendment Bill 2009 last night - no surprise that debate on such an important piece of legislation coincided with the State of Origin match in Melbourne. The bill undermines the protection of heritage in NSW - the speech is in the Speeches section of the website. Many thanks to the National Trust and the History Council of NSW for their vocal opposition to this bill.

30/05/2009

I have had the joy of spending today and yesterday in Camden and its surrounds. On Friday, I met with Mayor Chris Patterson and a local hero, Pam Browne, who has been campaigning for the protection of local heritage. The south-west of the Sydney basin has some of the most at-risk heritage in the State, and I highlighted how the Coalition's heritage policy will do wonders for the region. I also visited Leafs Gully to raise my concerns about how Phil Costa has failed to stand up for the health of the people of his electorate in the matter of the Leafs Gully power station. On Saturday I was there for the State Council of the Liberal Party of NSW - and I enjoyed seeing the beautiful heritage of Camden another time.

20/05/2009

Yesterday and today I visited the South Coast with Gareth Ward, Deputy Mayor of Shoalhaven Council. The main two issues of my visit were the future sustainbility of the South Coast, and the protection of its precious heritage. I held a community forum in Gerringong, saw the Council's sustainbility house, and met with Council. It was great to see the proactive engagement of the local community of the matter of wind power, especially when their local member, Matt Brown, doesn't even think they generate more energy that in takes to create them. I also communicated to locals that the Liberals' policy to abolish Part 3A of the planning system, and to move the Heritage Council out of the Minister for Planning's Hands and into the Environment Department. Such policies will let local communities have a greater say in the future of the areas they know best.

On Monday I had the great pleasure of speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Ku-Ring-Gai Environment (FOKE). Also in attendance was Jonathan O'Dea, the Member for Davidson. I spoke on the inapprorpriate development in the Ku-Ring-Gai LGA, especially the shredding of the canopy of remnant Sydney Blue Gum High Forest. For those who don't know it, the story of the arrogrance and short-sightedness of the NSW Labor government in Ku-Ring-Gai is not an unusual one - it is the same for the many areas of NSW that have received development which disregards an area's heritage, and the opinion of local people. In this case, it's an inappropriate style of urban consolidation in a heritage senstive ecosystem, the Sydney Blue Gum High Forest. It was heart-warming to see the community spirit and the passion of those in attendance. I also spoke on the matter in parliament yesterday, and that speech is avaliable here.

 

Catherine Cusack MLC
NSW Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability