Letter from ShUT to Joanna Gash (Federal Member for Gilmore and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism).
Dear Joanna
ShUT is an organisation that recently formed because of widespread and varied concerns within the Shoalhaven community over the proposed non-putrescible solid waste landfill at Tomerong quarry.
As you would know DA 09/2077 has been lodged with the Shoalhaven City Council and will be determined by the newly establish State JRPP. Shoalhaven City Council received over 750 submissions opposing this DA. The community briefing regarding this proposal was attended by over 350 residents.
Our organisation is of the view that this proposal should attract Federal Government scrutiny. The Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra, in its comprehensive 1995 study of Jervis Bay, “Kowari 5 Jervis Bay”, places the proposed tip site firmly within the spatial extent of the Bay’s boundaries. (Page 3). Any reference to Jervis Bay made in the study includes all the waters of the Bay and the immediate surrounds, as well as the hinterland and catchment areas north of St Georges Basin, south of Lake Wollumboola and as far west as the Princes Highway. Given that the Federal Government manages just under 13,000 ha of this Jervis Bay area, including Bherwerre Peninsula, Bowen Island and marine waters, the Wreck Bay Aboriginal settlement, the mainland component of the Jervis Bay National Park as well as Beecroft Peninsula, it defies belief that a proposed toxic waste dump, with the potential to have major environmental and social impact on its management area, can be of no interest to the Federal Government. In the past, you have been inclined to take a stand on matters which were beyond Federal Government jurisdiction; such as the Nowra pool and the consultation process on a Housing NSW proposal at Bomaderry, why silence on this matter?
ShUT believes that as the opposition spokesperson on tourism, you need to consider the impact that this toxic waste dump proposal could have on the local tourism industry. Given that tourism in the Shoalhaven is crutially important for income and employment, and given that you regularly express concerns about jobs in your electorate, why have you made no comment on the damage this development could cause the vital local tourism industry.
The land on which this proposed development is situated is owned by the In-Ja-Ghonndji Land Trust who in turn lease the land to Tomerong Quarry. The Trust was provided with the funds to purchase this land under the terms of the Indigenous Lands Council set up during the term of the Howard Government. As you were at the time, a member of this Government, could you please comment on what your intention was then, as to how this land should be used by the Trust and if this proposed land use would have been acceptable. Brian Egloff was an anthropological research officer for the south coast with the NSW Department of National Parks & Wildlife. Together with the Wreck Bay and Jerrinja Communities, he authored chapter 3 of the “Kowari” study mentioned above. The chapter details the pre and modern history of aboriginal communities in the Jervis Bay area and includes a map of aboriginal site locations, three of which seem to be on or close to Tomerong Creek in the vicinity of the proposed tip site. Although In-Ja-Ghoondji Lands Incorporated, asserts that “the proposed development does not impact on any Aboriginal cultural heritage values across the project area”, is In-ja-Goondji aware of the nearby sites noted by Egloff and, as this is a Federal matter, should it be further investigated by appropriate Federal departments.
The scale of this proposal is huge and the ramifications for Gilmour are onerous. We believe that your constituents are entitled to have the above questions answered and to know if you are prepared to stand with your community in opposition to the application. We seek your response in writing, as well as a meeting at your earliest convenience,so that a delegation from ShUT can outline the issues in more detail.
We thank you for considering our request for support and look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
ShUT is an organisation that recently formed because of widespread and varied concerns within the Shoalhaven community over the proposed non-putrescible solid waste landfill at Tomerong quarry.
As you would know DA 09/2077 has been lodged with the Shoalhaven City Council and will be determined by the newly establish State JRPP. Shoalhaven City Council received over 750 submissions opposing this DA. The community briefing regarding this proposal was attended by over 350 residents.
Our organisation is of the view that this proposal should attract Federal Government scrutiny. The Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra, in its comprehensive 1995 study of Jervis Bay, “Kowari 5 Jervis Bay”, places the proposed tip site firmly within the spatial extent of the Bay’s boundaries. (Page 3). Any reference to Jervis Bay made in the study includes all the waters of the Bay and the immediate surrounds, as well as the hinterland and catchment areas north of St Georges Basin, south of Lake Wollumboola and as far west as the Princes Highway. Given that the Federal Government manages just under 13,000 ha of this Jervis Bay area, including Bherwerre Peninsula, Bowen Island and marine waters, the Wreck Bay Aboriginal settlement, the mainland component of the Jervis Bay National Park as well as Beecroft Peninsula, it defies belief that a proposed toxic waste dump, with the potential to have major environmental and social impact on its management area, can be of no interest to the Federal Government. In the past, you have been inclined to take a stand on matters which were beyond Federal Government jurisdiction; such as the Nowra pool and the consultation process on a Housing NSW proposal at Bomaderry, why silence on this matter?
ShUT believes that as the opposition spokesperson on tourism, you need to consider the impact that this toxic waste dump proposal could have on the local tourism industry. Given that tourism in the Shoalhaven is crutially important for income and employment, and given that you regularly express concerns about jobs in your electorate, why have you made no comment on the damage this development could cause the vital local tourism industry.
The land on which this proposed development is situated is owned by the In-Ja-Ghonndji Land Trust who in turn lease the land to Tomerong Quarry. The Trust was provided with the funds to purchase this land under the terms of the Indigenous Lands Council set up during the term of the Howard Government. As you were at the time, a member of this Government, could you please comment on what your intention was then, as to how this land should be used by the Trust and if this proposed land use would have been acceptable. Brian Egloff was an anthropological research officer for the south coast with the NSW Department of National Parks & Wildlife. Together with the Wreck Bay and Jerrinja Communities, he authored chapter 3 of the “Kowari” study mentioned above. The chapter details the pre and modern history of aboriginal communities in the Jervis Bay area and includes a map of aboriginal site locations, three of which seem to be on or close to Tomerong Creek in the vicinity of the proposed tip site. Although In-Ja-Ghoondji Lands Incorporated, asserts that “the proposed development does not impact on any Aboriginal cultural heritage values across the project area”, is In-ja-Goondji aware of the nearby sites noted by Egloff and, as this is a Federal matter, should it be further investigated by appropriate Federal departments.
The scale of this proposal is huge and the ramifications for Gilmour are onerous. We believe that your constituents are entitled to have the above questions answered and to know if you are prepared to stand with your community in opposition to the application. We seek your response in writing, as well as a meeting at your earliest convenience,so that a delegation from ShUT can outline the issues in more detail.
We thank you for considering our request for support and look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
