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The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK [10.44 a.m.]: The Far North Coast is continuing to experience a massive transformation in population growth and housing, economic diversification, visitor numbers, and demand for all types of services, including health, education and transport. There has been extraordinary growth and development in all parts of the shire, but particularly along the coast. Last week announcements were made that the Aboriginal community is looking to develop 200 lots at Fingal. Tweed council recommended approval for the development of 204 lots at Seaside City, and Leda holdings, which owns the 900-hectare Kings Forest Site, is expected to get initial planning approval this week. This is a development of between 5,000 and 6,000 blocks.
This is unprecedented and enormous growth.is on top of the existing dynamic of Tweed as the number one retirement place in New South Wales, if not Australia. In fact, 24 per cent of the Tweed electorate is aged over 65—the number one electorate for over 65s in the State. Tweed is ranked last in the State in terms of the proportion of people aged 25 to 64, with just 47 per cent. It is significant that the 2001 Census showed that 46 per cent of Tweed residents had changed their address in the previous five years. This does not surprise me because a community with a large older population—whom we wish, of course, a happy and long retirement—cannot be expected to live as long in that community as perhaps a younger person. In other words, a continuing migration of retirees to Tweed is sustaining the large proportion of older people in the population.
The thousands of newcomers to Tweed have created a large and growing demand for improved infrastructure and access to world-class shopping services. To quote the editorial of the Daily News last Saturday, 14 October:
The considerations for Tweed Shire are substantial. Over the next decade as Kings Forest unfolds, population growth and accompanying pressures on local infrastructure will continue to increase. Full regard must be given for the environment and residents' quality of life, including traffic access, essential amenities such as schools and shopping centres—and quiet places to achieve Tweed's wonderful natural surroundings.
I strongly support the views expressed in this editorial. I am not so sure, however, that the current planning administration in the shire is delivering on these very important objectives. I hope this can be addressed and I draw the attention of the House tonight to Gales-Kingscliff.
Two months ago I met with Harry, Stephen and Lisa Segal of Gales-Kingscliff and inspected parts of their large property holdings at Kingscliff, Chinderah and Cudgen. I was greatly impressed by the scale and vision of the family's proposals, which would go a long way towards delivering on the infrastructure needs of the Tweed population—existing and future—and, indeed, surrounding populations as well, such as residents of the Byron shire, who will be some 20 minutes south of Kingscliff when the Pacific Highway improvements at Brunswick are completed.
The three outstanding features of the briefing were first that the Gales-Kingscliff proposals are a unique, one-off opportunity for the region. The land holdings are strategically placed to provide infrastructure solutions without impacting on the village character of the Tweed coast. Second, the family has gone to enormous lengths to consult with the community and it is clear from the briefing that I received that the project meets a pressing demand from locals in terms of world-class shopping facilities.
Third, there is the ever-pressing issue of jobs—particularly part-time work for all age groups in the region. I note that Tweed has the second lowest level of employment in the State, and a project of this type would stem the daily flood of North Coast residents forced to drive to Queensland every day for work. It is not just Tweed, as I believe the Pacific Highway upgrades will bring the Tweed to within 40 minutes of Ballina shire, and such a project would reap benefits across the region.
I was also impressed by the passion of the Segal family and its commitment to an ethical development that will be of lasting value to the region the family holds in great affection. They are good, thoughtful people who are, to paraphrase Sir Robert Menzies, on the list of contributors whose definition of success very much includes their service to the community. I acknowledge that there has been considerable conflict between Gales-Kingscliff and Tweed council planners involving litigation undertaken by the family to protect its property rights in the area—not, I emphasise, to extend those rights but rather to protect existing rights, which are in the midst of a rapidly changing planning environment. It is my hope and expectation that the family's wonderful proposal receives a fair hearing from council. Indeed, all of the residents of Tweed shire and the surrounding region deserve no less. I urge the council to find a way back to the table and not to lose or dilute this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.