Wollongong Council must withdraw from developers’ loving embrace

“The Property Council of Australia represents Australia’s largest developers and financiers. Its members include Stockland, Australand, Macquarie Bank, Westfield, and Multiplex,” Ms Hale said.

“It is genuinely disturbing to see Wollongong Council cosying up to hugely powerful developers that have done so much to devastate the south coast.

“Wollongong Council’s record with regard to the Stockland’s destruction of Aboriginal heritage and environmentally sensitive sites at Sandon Point indicates the closeness of the relationship between the Council and an avaricious developer indifferent to the community it exploits.

“That the Council should now see fit to donate $14,000 of residents’ money to allow the top end of the industry to junket in the top end of Australia is beyond the pale.

“No other Council has sponsored this event. Every Council other than Wollongong appears to have some regard for its reputation and a desire to avoid the clear conflict of interest involved in being matey with the large corporations whose developments the council is required to assess.

“Wollongong Council would have been better to have spent the money helping some of the area’s unemployed young people acquire new skills or assisting homeless people to find accommodation.

“At the very least, it should immediately withdraw its sponsorship,” Ms Hale said.

Contact: Hazel Blunden on 0437 092 154.