From the Far End of the Council Table - 8 June 2009

Date: 08-Jun-09
Author: Councillor James Ryan

There was less than the usual thrills and spills at the Council meeting this week because of the State of Origin match.  Funny how the number of issues on the Agenda gets less and everyone keeps their speeches shorter when the footy is on. Wasn't a very good result though - the footy I mean.

So what were the big issues. Well the Huntlee issue was a big one. Before this development can proceed the developers have to reach agreement with Council about the public facilities they are going to provide. In  my opinion Huntlee will not be a very nice place to live if the kids don't have enough footy fields to play on and there are not enough  playgrounds. Land has to be set aside for these facilities as well as walking trails and bike paths. According to Council  Huntlee P/L, which is partly owned by Hardie Holdings and LWP (the Western Australian developers), is not offering enough. The Council report outlines a series of meetings at which both Council and Huntlee P/L had their solicitors present. Huntlee had told Council in these meetings that this was their final offer. The report to the Council meeting came with a recommendation Council does not enter into an agreement with Huntlee until more facilities are offered.

Anyway after all this just before the Council meeting Huntlee asked for the Report to be withdrawn to enable further talks.

No doubt this is the type of situation in which developers cry 'Council is making it too hard for us to develop!' Yet on the other hand if Council doesn't stick up for a decent amount of facilities now - it will be the families that buy house and land there, and who live in Huntlee for years while their kids grow up, who will suffer. In fact it is their kids who will suffer the most from second rate community facilities. The developers will take their profits and go - it is the families who will still be there in twenty years time that that I believe Council should look after.

Of course there is a strong possibility that there will be no Huntlee. The local residents Sweet Water Action Group (SWAG), are challenging the Ministers decision in the Land and Environment Court.  Councillor Chris Parker is the President of SWAG.

The group is arguing that the Minister was biased. This is because before the legal decision to approve Huntlee was made the Minister had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hardie Holdings promising to use his/her 'best endeavors' to rezone the land.

How can the law say that everyone, including you and me, has the right to have our say before a decision is made - and yet the Minister can sign an agreement with the developer before we have had that chance?

The Sweetwater Action Group are asking a judge to decide that question. Make sure you have your say.