Concerned residents will gather at The Farm for the second time in as many months to discuss proposed plans to redevelop Killalea State Park.
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The 'Save Killalea' Alliance meeting this Sunday follows a similar gathering on November 3 where hundreds of people voiced their opposition to the plans "developed in secret".
Shellharbour councillor Peter Moran, who organised the first rally, said people attending the December 8 gathering would hear more about Reflections' $11 million plans.
In October Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced that the NSW Government had awarded a $6.5 million grant to upgrade the site, run by the Reflections Holiday Parks group which will invest $4.4 million into the project.
As well as 15 luxury cabins and the function centre, the redevelopment would include 53 full-serviced campsites, a new playground, walking trails and outdoor recreational equipment.
Cr Moran said a team from Reflections recently briefed Shellharbour councillors about their plans.
"They are hoping to provide shortly a map of what they regard as a no-go areas for any development, which will be interesting to see," he said.
"There is lots of different information they've been able to provide including discussions with council about a second access into Killalea.
"We are just trying to make sure the community are fully aware of what they are proposing and where they are proposing it."
Cr Moran said while Reflections had some positive suggestions, he had some significant concerns.
'Although there is a $275,000 shortfall in the running costs of the park at the moment, there are many, myself included who would take the view that this is a park, and a park doesn't necessarily have to pay its own way," he said.
"I mean we don't allow development in the Domain in Sydney or the Sydney Botanic Gardens simply because they are facilities that cost money to run and therefor they must pay their own way.
"Why is it that Killalea must pay its own way?
"Reflections is an arm of the government in that they are the appointed managers by the board that runs all state parks.
"They get their riding orders from higher up which ultimately comes from the government which says we don't want to subsidise these parks.
"I and many others would say well, a park is a park, it doesn't have to pay its own way.
"Sometimes things are done just because they are there in the public good. I think many people would say that is the case with Killalea - it is land that was donated to the community by the Killalea family.
"It is not necessarily something that has to pay its own way and we are very reluctant to support anything that would enshrine that principle."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
