A political stoush has occurred over a new, resort-style apartment complex at Miranda just days before its public sales release.
Former Miranda MP Barry Collier, a Labor candidate for the Sutherland Shire Council election, attacked Liberal councillors for allowing a temporary sales office and display unit for the Palisade project to be erected on public land.
A sign in front of the temporary building says the site is a public reserve, managed by the council.
Mr Collier said the Liberals were “thumbing their noses at shire residents” by allowing the developer to erect the structure.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce hit back at Mr Collier, accusing him of “being out of touch” and “playing politics” over the site on the corner of the Kingsway and Sylvania Road.
Cr Pesce said the land was not owned by the council, but was part of the F6 road reservation owned by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
Cr Pesce said the developer applied directly to RMS for consent to use the land, and was granted a lease.
“Clearly Barry has a selective memory when it comes to the facts of this issue,” he said.
“It suits him to blame the council when in fact it was not our decision to lease the land.
“Let's also be clear about the Palisade [development] – it was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel, not council.”
Mr Collier maintained his attack after learning the RMS owned the land.
“The bottom line is that it is public land which is being used by a private developer for its own purpose, to promote its large, controversial project,” he said.
“Whether the ownership vests in the Liberal state government or in the Liberal council is not the issue.
“The real issue is that publicly owned land being used for the profit of a private developer.”
The public sales launch for the Palisade development takes place on Saturday August 6.
Development company Galileo began marketing to “VIP customers” early this year and opened the display suite after a development application was approved by the council.
The company’s marketing consultant says what sets Palisade part from other new developments in the shire is its “resort style living and convenience”.
Apartments range in price from $580,000 for one bedroom, to $800,000 (not $795,000 as earlier advised by the marketing consultant), and $1.09 million for three bedrooms.
The development is featured in the Domain section of this weeks’s Leader.
