Illawarra Escarpment Development

Mr MARKHAM (Wollongong - Parliamentary Secretary) [5.27 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House yet again an issue affecting the Illawarra escarpment, that great natural backdrop to Wollongong. After many concerns a committee of inquiry was set up to ascertain the value of the Illawarra escarpment and whether development should continue upwards towards Mount Keira and other parts of the mountain range. The commission of inquiry has issued a report to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Housing entitled "The Long Term Planning and Management of the Illawarra Escarpment".

In May 1999 Commissioner William Simpson, Chairman of Commissioners of Inquiry for Environment and Planning, released a 145-page report on the Illawarra escarpment. There were two rounds of hearings. The first was from 7 December to 11 December 1998, and the second was on 27 and 28 January 1999. Over three days, a total of 26 site inspections examined different aspects of the escarpment in the Illawarra. There were 118 written submissions and 58 oral submissions, which indicates the great deal of concern felt about the future of the Illawarra escarpment. The Summary of Major Findings and Recommendations contains 15 findings and 22 recommendations. Finding No. 1 states in part:

1. In this regard, the Escarpment and its foothills must be planned, conserved, protected and managed as a single entity . . .

Its visual significance in terms of the dominating and elevated green backdrop it provides to the Wollongong urban area is dependent upon the existence and continuance of substantial tree growth in both the core and non-core areas.

I believe that is a very important point. Finding No. 12 states:

12. The present approach to environmental planning and management of the Escarpment is inadequate and unsatisfactory.

Recommendation No. 6, "Core escarpment land", states:

6.f. land offering opportunity for tourism, recreation and scientific research for the establishment of an Escarpment Regional Park pursuant to the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Recommendation No. 7 states after 7k:

In the long term, upon cessation of mining and completion of site rehabilitation, the following sites should be rezoned 7(a):

a. Bellambi Colliery site, located between Woonona and Russel Vale.

b. Kemira Colliery site.

c. Mount Kembla Colliery site located at the north-eastern arm of the upper catchment of Brandy & Water Creek.

Recommendation No. 8 states:

I recommend an Illawarra Escarpment Regional Park be established pursuant to S47O of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 as a long term goal. The responsibility for establishing such a park shall rest with the State Government and Wollongong City Council.

I could continue to read all of the 15 findings and 22 recommendations, but I would have nowhere near enough time in the five minutes that is allocated for my speech. I call on the Government to ensure that these findings and recommendations are adopted.

The Illawarra Escarpment is one of the great natural attractions of Wollongong and the Illawarra, together with the beaches and Lake Illawarra. I believe what has happened in the past amounts to dereliction of duty on the part of some organisations that have allowed housing to be built on the slopes of the escarpment. I have previously raised the issue of the BHP sell-off of land to a consortium that now wishes to build houses which will scar the face of the escarpment.

I have always maintained that when coal mines and coal leases are no longer used for coalmining, which is the purpose for which they were granted, the land should revert to public ownership. The findings and recommendations I have cited reinforce the arguments that I have been putting forward in this House over the last 10 years. I call on the Government to implement each recommendation. I applaud the commissioner and all those who were involved with the preparation of this great report. [Time expired.]