26-7-07

Media Release

Frank Sartor “Perplexed” by Randwick City Council Debacle Over Historic Arden Street Retaining Walls

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State Planning Minister Frank Sartor will not intervene into the bungled handling by Randwick City Councillors of the heritage valued Arden Street stone retaining walls in Coogee.

In a scathing letter to the Council this week the Labor Minister advises that he will not make an emergency order to protect the walls from a development consent granted by the Council.

There was community concern when it was revealed that one of the applicants was linked to a company that had donated money to the election campaigns of local Labor Councillors.

The Minister’s letter describes himself as “perplexed” by the Council’s later request for an emergency order despite its initial approval of the development.

He said in the letter,

“Finally, I am perplexed that Council is now seeking the heritage listing of the walls under the Heritage Act even though it recently decided not to list the wall as a heritage item on its own LEP.”

Greens Councillor Murray Matson disagrees that there is any thing to be perplexed about.

He said,

“The Council's change of mind is not particularly perplexing. There were Labor Councillors present at the meeting that voted to approve the development proposal but none of them were present at the meeting that voted to support a community request to the Minister that he intervene to protect the heritage value of the walls.”

Cr Matson called for the banning of election donations from developers to decision makers. He said,

“The only perplexing question is the State Government’s long time refusal to ban election donations from developers to both local and state politicians. The Planning Minister really should address this appalling planning issue in NSW.”