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Marina abandons consultation process

Killcare Marina has abandoned plans to involve the community in the redesign of its facility.

The marina's chief executive Mr Michael Sparks said: "We wanted to involve the community in the form and substance of the development itself."

He said such an approach has been rejected by the community.

Instead, the Hardys Bay Residents' Group had "tried to approach the application in a traditional adversarial way", he said.

"We fail to see any win-win outcomes from this approach."

Mr Sparks said the preferred process had included preparation, analysis of an alternate marina design and upfront opportunity for groups to review the environmental impact assessment document prior to the development application lodgement.

"Subsequently, we made a series of presentations and communicated a need for change, and gave one alternative proposal.

"We communicated our desire to involve the community in the consultation process.

"Our overall objective was to encourage community involvement and foster meaningful two-way communication.

"The process was not about agreement or disagreement but about the issues we would need to face and confront."

Mr Sparks said the company was currently "re-evaluating".

"We are trying to get approved the structure of a building for offices, retail space, recreational space, car parking improvements, appropriate repair facilities for vehicles, refuelling and a floating marina birth," Mr Sparks said.

"What we believe we and the public get is compliance with statutory requirements and improved customer service offering, facilities that satisfy current and future demand, improved public access including facilities for disabled people, including active-passive space, employment opportunities and business opportunities, improved access to vessels and increased economic performance.

"The development will result in a facility that's capable of providing customers and the public with world class berthing facility that is also using world best practice management techniques and compliance with legislative demand."

However, the Hardys Bay Residents Group has stated that it was "concerned about the effects a larger marina would have on this community".

It stated it "would support a suitable modernisation of the current marina provided its size was limited to its existing footprint, building height and location".

It has also decided to seek legal advice, after having been told that the development application could go straight to the Planning Minister for determination, bypassing council involvement.

Resident's Group communications officer Mr Allan Wilson said that the project application would circumvent the local council approval process by using "Part 3A" of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

"This process, disturbingly, reduces the involvement of the community in the decision-making process.

"The decision makers for applications made under this law are the Minister for Planning and Director General, Department of Planning."

Press release, 26 Feb 2008 Allan Wilson, Hardys Bay Residents Group Lyle Stone, 4 Feb 2008 Interviewee: Michael Sparks, Killcare Marina