Scott Morrison says news golf club pursuing development on car crash site ‘distressing’

Scott Morrison has responded to news a Sydney golf club is planning an apartment development on the site of one of the city’s most tragic crashes.

A plan for an apartment development on the site of one of Sydney’s most tragic car crashes has been labelled distressing by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The Daily Telegraph on Monday reported the Oatlands Golf Club were pushing ahead with the development on the land just six months after rejecting a memorial for the Abdallah children who died in the car crash at the site.

Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, Antony 13, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, were killed in February 2020 when a drunk driver slammed into them with his ute as they walked on the footpath beside the golf club.

The Abdallah and Sakr families were seeking approval to build a memorial to their children at their own expense but were repeatedly knocked back.

Speaking with 2GB earlier on Monday, Mr Abdallah said he was “very disappointed” by the golf clubs hypocrisy.

Scott Morrison said the families request was reasonable. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I pleaded that if we could get a members vote for a memorial in honour of my children. And they basically said ‘nope, we‘re not doing that’ and negotiations are closed,” he said.

“Now they asking the members to vote for 193 apartments.

“It’s just very disappointing.”

Mr Morrison said he spoke with their father, Danny Abdallah, on Monday via text message as he seeks a fair outcome for all.

“I think their simple, honest, humble request that they should be able to memorialise the children that were taken from them, I think is entirely reasonable, and I would certainly hope that a fair outcome can be achieved here for them,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“Premier and I have been in discussion about these issues.

The makeshift memorial site where the children were killed. Picture: Toby Zerna

“Danny and I were texting each other again this morning and I know that the Premier is working with them to hopefully achieve something positive here, and I certainly hope they do.”

He added the news the golf club was pushing ahead with plans to build a 193 apartment complex was “very distressing”.

“I, like (families), and very distressed about that. I think their simple, honest, humble request that they should be able to memorialise their children that were taken from them is entirely reasonable.

“I would certainly hope that a fair outcome can be achieved here for them.”

Bridget Sakr pictured holding a portrait of her daughter 11-year-old daughter Veronique. Picture by Damian Shaw

In a penned letter to the golf club in July, Mr Morrison said a decision to not approve a memorial at the site was “unAustralian”.

But the impassioned letter fell on deaf ears.

“Opinion is split on what, if anything, should be done, but the formal decision process will not begin until we work through the indemnity ­issues,” general manager Sam Howe said in July.

Samuel Davidson, the man behind the wheel, has been sentenced to spend least 21 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2041.