Sue Doran, Greens candidate for Coogee, deplores the fact that Paul Pearce warned a Coogee Precinct meeting this week to be ready for a major development of the Coogee Bay Hotel site development along the Coogee foreshore that will most likely breach the 12 metre height limit.
“Clearly Mr Pearce has been unable to persuade his party to respect the views of his constituents”, Ms Doran said.
“Against community wishes, the views of Council, and a record-breaking 17,000 signature petition by local activists, the Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, is likely to cave in to the Coogee Bay Hotel and the Australian Hotels Association. These two captains of industry have donated $84,750 and $1,129,695 respectively to the Labor Party“ she said.
“Both major parties at state level have voted to take decisions out of local government (Part 3A legislation) for projects costing more than $100 million.
The Planning Minister is the sole consent authority for these proposals. Since Liberal and Labor have received more than $5 million in the last decade from the hotel industry, large developments at pubs are a forgone conclusion. And this is so even when the pub has a known reputation for violence and street disturbance,” Ms Doran said.
“It is not too much to ask for development in harmony with Coogee village’s heritage character and which respects the rights of residents to a peaceful night’s sleep.”
“Both Ministers Kelly (Planning) and Daley (Police) could have resolved these matters after hearing from Paul Pearce. The Liberal Opposition, too, could have called the government to account. None of them has acted.”
“Rather, the bad old days are still here. Deep pockets and donations to Labor or Liberal matter more than responsibility to community or environment.” Ms Doran said today, “This practice must end.”
“Poor decision making based on reliance on corporate donations, ignoring community views on local development standards and taking voters for granted must end now!”
CONTACT: Sue Doran, Greens Candidate for Coogee.