A posting from Rod McKelvey on the 22/4/2011
It’s been a few weeks since we last heard from the Hearnes Lake protesters, but information has come to light which once again shows up the sorry tale of associations and acquaintances that was Labors Part 3A Planning process.
For those wishing to listen, Frank Sartor confirmed on ABC’s Lateline what we already knew:
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/ ... 176118.htm
And the stench in the air as you drive past the Hearnes Lake on the Pacific Highway is Part 3A.
Like an elephant in the cupboard, with obscene donations to the Labor Party machine.
The expectation of course is Part 3A approvals. That’s why developers could arrogantly say “that CHCC and/or community don’t stand a chance stopping this development”.
Unfortunately the ones left to deal with the mess are the families and communities who watched developments go ahead where they never should have.
Peter Darby says it’s all a friendly local family affair, rubbish the sorry trail went all the way to the Premiers Office. So let’s have a look:
Stephen Hosking (Sydney, North Shore) and Mr John Oliver (Bluegrass Nominees Pty Ltd, Brownsville/South Wollongong).
Bilal Yassine: (Now Sandy Shores Project Manager).
· Project Officer Sandy Shores.
· Sydney NSW Property Consultants Pty Ltd. Company never registered but named as proponent in Consent Document signed by Minister Kelly.
· Sydney NSW Property Consultants, started 21 June 2006 – ceased 23 Sept 2009.
· Landcorp Consultants Pty Ltd, started 2 Feb 2006 – ceased Feb 2009.
Talal Yassine, OAM:
· Stepped aside for Labor pre-selection in Auburn in Sept 2001 (just BEFORE Sept 11), in favour of Barbara Perry. Liberal party demanded the same of their high-profile Muslim lawyer who wanted pre-selection but who stood aside in favour of another Christian female. A (very funny account of it here :
http://newmatilda.com/2007/01/24/funny-guy-year)
· CEO of Crescent Investments Australasia Pty Ltd which is developing a Shariah-compliant wholesale property trust that is “in discussions with Bilal Yassine” to assist with the trust.
http://www.crescentinvestments.com.au/m ... &Itemid=57
· Chief Commercial Officer of Better Place Australia, a company that was in the news for giving Ben Keneally (Kristina Keneally’s husband) $1million in shares two days after he left his job in Premier’s and Cabinet and while she was Minister for Planning in 2009. Better Place has seemingly had preferential access to the government to provide electricity recharging stations.
Better Place packs a war chest after raising about $700 million in venture capital in the past two years, including $25 million from local investors Lend Lease, AGL and RACV.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/electric ... 1d471.html CEO is Evan Thornley, former State Labor MP and a founder of GetUp.
Right from the start when the Hearnes Lake ‘Sandy Shores’ development was lodged DoP did not like it, did not like the people involved. That sentiment has prevailed through a succession of Ministers until Tony Kelly gave it Concept Approval on Dec 20.
Charles Hill (Planning Workshop Australia) stated at CHCC DCP meeting Sandy Beach School back in 2005 “that CHCC and/or community don’t stand a chance stopping this development”. How can they be that confident?
Never-the-less a succession of Ministers, Knowles, Sartor and Keneally all had major reservations about developing Hearnes Lake because of the constraints – a letter on file in the Minister’s Office said as much.
Pressure came to bear when Keneally took advisors from Planning Ministers Office to Premiers Dept. and approvals started to flow. Previously Keneally (as Planning Minister) had told Jack Thompson that she agreed that Hearnes Lake area was severely constrained and should not be developed. After Kelly approved the BBK development at Hearnes Lake, Keneally (as Premier) simply apologised to Jack Thompson saying ‘she was very sorry’ adding she would not be reviewing it.
A succession of DoP staff and senior staff also have all indicated they were concerned about developing the Hearnes Lake area.
Bill (Bilal) Yassine rang me on lunchtime December 27, the day one of my letters was published in the Advocate. The tone very threatening/bullying suggesting financial ruin and talking trash about what council did or didn’t have in regard to studies on Hearnes lake. Would not repeat his surname or divulge the telephone number.
A Sandy Beach resident was then threatened with losing his house by an investor saying “the people involved just love taking everything people like you own”.
Bilal Yassine rings me again on February 23, 2011 after open letter to Richard Pearson, DoP published, angrily saying: “Rod, Bill Yassine, we’ve had a gutful we’re going to sue”
Richard Pearson DoP, in an unprecedented move, writes three Letters to the Editor endeavouring to justify the Dept’s Concept Approval, all very weak excuses. Largely based on statements saying the approval is in line with the MNCRS and the area defined as a growth area but …
Check Map Page 52 Mid North Coast Regional Strategy Growth Areas, Coffs Harbour.
“Growth Areas show the boundaries of urban areas and as such identify both existing and proposed urban areas.
Not all land identified within the Growth Area can be developed for urban areas. All sites will be subject to more detailed investigations to determine capability and future yield. Land that is subject to significant natural hazards and or environmental constraints will be excluded from development.”
The DCP came into force on December 7, 2005. Detailed investigations had limited the developable footprint to an area which would have accommodated some 35 allotments. This was communicated to the current owners before they purchased the property.
Terry Flannigan (a former Kelly advisor) contacted us in January 2011 requesting a meeting because he wanted to help. He wanted a briefing from us, so he could help us fight the appalling decision to develop Hearnes Lake.
We met with him Monday, January 10 and Monday, January 17. He was consulting Mike Fleming (another Kelly advisor) in between.
Flannigan’s tone changed dramatically over this short period from passionately supporting our stand, telling us he would meet directly with Kelly and had planned to write a stinging anti-Hearnes Lake development letter to the Advocate focusing on financial matters, to telling us that if we don’t stop inferring there has been corruption (the word had never been previously mentioned) he’d distance himself from us forthwith.
Flannigan also stated if we ever mentioned these conversations he’d deny they ever happened, which was a bit strange given that all the conversations took place at a private residence, with three individuals who would swear on oath that he did attend the meetings.
Flannigan, Jenny Bonfield and Gavin Smithers met with Mike Fleming (another Kelly advisor, not Kelly as promised) at the Ministers Office Wednesday, January 19. The message they got was nothing had been done wrong, it was Council’s issue because they held up the LEP and there was an existing use problem.
Mike Fleming then advises Flannigan that Yassine is known to the DoP and that DoP have endured four years of harassment.
The land has been zoned since 1988. They have existing use rights.
Council apparently at fault, and the problem is there. Someone is responsible for not completing the LEP (despite a letter to council from Chris Wilson DoP 7.7.06 recommending council do not proceed with LEP amendments) Sartor said DoP weren’t happy about the developers or the development, but they had an existing use problem.