Protection of important heritage like Heathcote Hall should not be used as a fig leaf by developers intent on maximise profits from the site, State Opposition spokeswoman on heritage Penny Sharpe said..
Ms Sharp met about 20 residents on site at Heathcote East.
The meeting was organised by Maryanne Stuart, Labor’s spokesperson for Heathcote, and Federal Labor Candidate for Hughes Diedree Steinwall.
“Yet again, the Baird government is running roughshod over local communities,” Ms Sharpe said.
“They just don’t understand the loss of faith felt by the community of East Heathcote on the process to date.
“The Minister for Heritage [Mark Speakman] failing to declare a meeting he had with the developer until he was caught out by the community magnifies the distrust and shows a lack of commitment to transparency in planning and heritage,” she said.
Ms Sharp said residents had expressed frustration and mistrust.
Specific issues they had raised included the secrecy and lack of transparency about plans, including the meeting Mr Speakman and Heathcote MP Lee Evans had with the the developer, but not the community;
Their other concerns had included lack of consultation with the community and locating a development of this size in a fire prone area with significant road capacity constraints and the implications for evacuation;
Ms Sharpe said residents had stated the heritage of Heathcote Hall and its preservation was essential, but should not be used as a stalking horse for development of an area that is zoned for single dwellings in an environmental zone.
“The community is continuing to collect signatures for a 10,000-person petition to force a debate in the NSW Parliament,” she said.
