Sandon picket stands strong
Despite brutal attacks by the police, protestors have been holding the line for the last 12 months with a union-backed picket and Aboriginal Tent Embassy to save Sandon Point. The area, which contains environmentally sensitive wetlands and Aboriginal sacred sites on the NSW south coast near Wollongong, is under threat from a planned housing development. In February property developer Stocklands, a billion dollar investment company specialising in commercial, retail and residential real estate developments, was due to begin work on a giant housing development at Sandon Point. When the picket line of local residents, Aboriginal owners, unionists and environmentalist, barred their way, the local police, backed by private security guards armed with dogs and guns, moved in. When the picketers stood firm and continued their protest, the para- military arm of the NSW Police, the Tactical Response Group, was brought in. By then more than 250 people had joined the picket. More than 50 protesters were arrested and Stocklands was able to move its equipment onto the site. The protest, the picket and the arrests have continued. Background In the early 1990s two events saw the tide change for the ecologically sensitive Sandon Point. The first was the election of an ALP-dominated council, on a platform of listening to the community and being against large-scale development. The other was the sale of Sandon Point sites, which at the time were owned by BHP and the Sydney Waterboard. The ALP-controlled council in 2000 voted 60:40 in favour of the development. The community has been waging battle with the ALP, both in the local council and the State Government over what it sees as a fight to the end to save the last green corridor between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Wollongong coastline. The site was sold to Stocklands Investments Pty Ltd, whose major shareholder is the US Bank of Massachusetts. Stocklands bought the land with the intention of creating a new suburb of Wollongong by building a minimum of 300 houses on the site. Most residents at the time didn't have a clue that the land had been sold. There was no consultation with the community, just an article in the local Illawarra Mercury newspaper saying that Stocklands had bought the land. Not even a "For Sale" sign was erected. The land, known for a long time to be environmentally sensitive, is a designated wetlands by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Since its election in 1995, the Carr Labor Government has pursued a policy of urban consolidation. This saw a review of state planning policies and the establishment of its own Coastal Policy in 1997. The policy states, "The primary objective of the NSW Coastal Policy is to protect the coastline and beaches for the enjoyment of future generations and to ensure that coastal development is balanced, well planned and environmentally sensitive. "The Government will continue to bring unique coastal land into public ownership. The Government will register the title of all beaches currently under Crown control in the name of the people of the New South Wales and will dedicate those beaches for public use." According to the Department of Land and Water Conservation's website this policy covers an area of one nautical mile between the high tide mark and coastal land. Under this policy half of the Sandon Point Site should be given back to the NSW Government and be registered under Crown control. Instead it has been handed over as a gift to a multi-national developer. The land in question was also found to have been flood prone with at least 25 per cent being classified by Wollongong Council as a landslide zone. Indigenous rights In March 1998, following a heavy storm, a fully intact ceremonial grave was found on the site which was deemed to be of great cultural significance. It contained a perfectly undisturbed skeleton, surrounded by ceremonial and sacred objects. This man was a Kuradji (Clever fella) buried around 6000 years ago. NSW Government policy in relation to Aboriginal artifacts and sites states is under the management of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). It provides for the protection, preservation and management of all Aboriginal relics throughout NSW, irrespective of land tenure. The policy goes on to say: "It is an offence to knowingly disturb, damage, deface or destroy an Aboriginal relic without the prior written consent of the Director-General of the NPWS." "Lands may be acquired by the NPWS for the purpose of protecting and preserving important relics. These lands can be dedicated as Historic Sites or Aboriginal Places." Meanwhile, Stocklands, with directions from the Police Minister, has coerced local police, backed by armed security officers to threaten, beat up and arrest anyone who enters the site or touches surrounding fences. In doing this, even local school children on the picket have been charged by police. As one local resident protestor said of the involvement of local police: "It's a terrible indictment on this company that it was able to manipulate police into this filthy job." And a terrible indictment of the Carr Government. To keep Sandon Point in community hands contact your state Member. If you live nearby drop in and show your support. To contact the picket, access their website at http://uow.edu.au/~morgan/park.html.