Thousands speak out against plan for $6.5 million Killalea tourist development
Locals are ramping up efforts to stop a tourist redevelopment from going ahead at Killalea State Park, south of Wollongong. Find out what is being proposed.
Illawarra Star
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Thousands of community members have banded together to “save The Farm”, after a major, multimillion-dollar tourism redevelopment planned for Killalea State Park was announced last week.
A petition to throw out plans for the development was launched on Friday, after Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced the state government had awarded a $6.5 million grant to upgrade the site, run by the Reflections Holiday Parks group, which will also invest $4.4 million into the project.
The project, which is set to boost tourism, will see the development of 15 luxury eco cabins, 53 full-serviced campsites, a playground, walking trails and outdoor recreational equipment built at the site.
The announcement was met with fiery debate from locals, many of whom have fought to protect the site from development for several years. Twelve years ago in 2007, a $35 million tourist development including the construction of 106 lodges was scrapped, after the Save Killalea Alliance successfully fought against the plans.
Local resident Richard Berndt started the ‘Save The Farm, no tourist development for Killalea State Park’ petition just over four days ago, and had more than 5000 signatures by Monday morning.
In his petition, Mr Berndt raised concern over the impact the development could have on the public reserve as well as the surrounding residential area, demanding the plans be withdrawn.
“Killalea State Park was donated to the public as a surfing reserve, to be conserved for future generations and avoid development,” he said.
“We like it as it is; beautiful, unspoiled and affordable … A 200 seat function centre would regularly bring well over 100 cars in and out — overwhelming the site and surrounding residential areas.”
The redevelopment has also received pushback at a local government level, with Shellharbour City councillor Peter Moran organising an urgent meeting to gauge public interest in the issue, test support for different aspects of the proposal, and thirdly to seek members who would be prepared to sit on a ‘Save Killalea Committee’.
“Community consultation should be foremost when considering significant changes to such an iconic park,” he said.
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“So far plans and funding applications have been developed in secret. This secrecy cannot be the hallmark of this proposal. We must be vigilant.”
The meeting, which has been scheduled for 11am at the state reserve on Sunday, has already piqued the interest of close to 150 people.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson has also entered the debate, raising concern over the lack of community consultation involved in the project thus far.
“Other issues that have been raised, with respect to this project, include alternate road access to Killalea Reserve, traffic congestion, the impact on the local environment and an increase in tourist numbers at the reserve,” she said.
“Killalea Reserve is a much loved and iconic part of our local identity here in Shellharbour. It was given special protection in 2009 and it is my expectation that Reflections Holiday Parks, will engage with the local community in extensive consultations, as a matter of priority.”
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