A majority of Wollongong councillors have voted decisively not to involve themselves in the approvals process for Skydive the Beach’s planned Stuart Park headquarters, snuffing out debate on the issue before it got off the ground.
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While the decision has – once again – paved the way for the controversial building to go ahead, the debate shut-down has further inflamed other councillors and residents who vowed to form a new public movement called “Residents for Democracy” in an effort to make their voices heard.
At the Monday night gathering, councillors voted not to allow a motion which would have delayed approval of the Skydive development application (DA) due to concerns about the legality of the building and use of public land.
Councillors Jill Merrin and Vicki Curran had called the extraordinary meeting, asking their colleagues to take over the approvals decision – ordinarily made by council staff – and delay a vote on the DA until staff delivered a lengthy report on the council’s dealings with the adventure tourism giant.
The meeting was attended by a large contingent of Skydive the Beach employees and a roughly equal number of people who have continually objected to the company’s use of public land.
It took an explosive turn as the majority of councillors voted to end the meeting before all opinions on Cr Merrin’s motion could be heard.
After the Greens councillor put forward her arguments and asked a long list of questions to staff, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery called for any speakers against to come forward.
With none wishing to speak, Labor councillor David Brown asked that the “motion be put”, which was supported by his Labor colleagues, Liberal councillors and Cr Bradbery.
This procedural motion – which is not regularly used in council debate – meant no other voice in support of Cr Merrin’s plans was allowed.
This move angered Skydive opponents in the public gallery and other councillors, with independent Vicki Curran rushing to form a new collective called “Residents for Democracy”.
“I’m disgusted… that was an organised caucus to shut this debate down,” Cr Curran said.
As the meeting erupted, Skydive director Anthony Ritter looked shell-shocked as he watched yet another controversy unfold.
Labor councillors released a statement after the meeting, saying they had already engaged in “extensive debate on this matter”.
Cr Bradbery said he was pleased to see the debate ended, as he did not believe development applications should be discussed on the floor of council.
He said those who believed the DA should be decided by the councillors and wanted further advice on the legality of Skydive’s use of the park were “conflating two issues”.
“There will be a time for us to debate the leases and licences but this is not it, that is yet to come to council,” Cr Bradbery said.
“For the past five years our procedure – as was recommended by ICAC – has been that DAs dealt with by council staff, then the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel procedure and then councillors only get drawn in when there is a split decision.”
“This prevents corruption.”
Asked why he did not make those points on the floor of council, Cr Bradbery said there had already been multiple public hearings on the Skydive issue.
Liberal councillor Bede Crasnich said he had been keen to end the meeting as it was “costing ratepayers quite a bit of money”.
“This whole process has been transparent,” he said.
“I do have concerns about the terms of the lease and licences, because I want to make sure we are getting a good return for ratepayers, and I hope we will have that debate in the future.
After the meeting – which will now allow the council’s DA decision to be forwarded to the Land and Environment Court – Mr Ritter said he hoped the company could “now move forward onto the next steps in the process and, ultimately, produce public infrastructure that will do the city of Wollongong proud”.
"We have always been committed to working with Council in relation to our DA request and throughout this long process have sought to provide all necessary information and follow all processes in order to ensure what we provide for the region enhances the community aspect and provides value to the site,” he said.
LABOR STATEMENT
“This term of council has previously supported the Indepedent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP) process to de-politicise the assessment of development applications and declined to call them to the floor of council for determination,” the statement said.
“IHAP has now twice considered the Skydive DA and the matter is presently with the court.
“Matters regarding any Skydive lease or permissable land use on Stuart Park will be determined by a vote of council following the court’s determination and preparation of an officer’s report detailing legal and commercial information.