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A peaceful rally will be held outside the NSW Planning office in Gosford on Friday then, Lindy Nolan, author of Driving Disunity – The Business Council Against Aboriginal Community, will be guest speaker at a community event on Saturday, 17 February.
A peaceful rally will be held outside the Central Coast office of the NSW Department of Planning, 32 Mann St, Gosford, today, Friday, 16 February.
The recent community consultation for a planning proposal to rezone C2 conservation land for residential development on Woy Woy Rd, Kariong, had to be extended after an unknown number of submissions were “lost” by the NSW Planning Portal.
This digital interface is supposed to be a “one stop shop” for all planning-related issues in NSW but the system did not do what it was supposed to in relation to sending confirmation of receipt of submissions for the Woy Woy Rd matter.
“Many who put in a submission via the portal did not receive the automated confirmation email, indicating receipt of the submission. The ‘Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure’ has verified that without this email confirmation, your submission was not logged.
“This potentially means thousands of submissions have been lost. This is unacceptable. We insist on fairness, transparency, and integrity in the planning process.
“Concerned residents had to push for the Dept to provide an alternative submissions process following the failure.
“That process has now closed. However, it’s time to take a stand FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ….. and to show our concern over this lack of transparency in government bodies and processes, and our expectation that this should not happen again in the next stage after submissions closed.
The peaceful rally outside the NSW Planning office in Gosford will commence from 10am today, Friday 16 February. Participants are encouraged to make and bring signs and banners.
Sticky tape may also come in handy. “We may engage in a silent protest to illustrate how our voices have been stifled.
“This is our moment to champion the environment and ensure that every viewpoint is accounted for in the decision-making process. Let’s come together and demand this Zoning process be paused until fair and reasonable community consultation is obtained.”
Then, on Saturday, Lindy Nolan will visit the Coast. Goodreads offers the following description of Lindy Nolan’s book, Driving Disunity:
“At the beginning of the 21st century, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples were united and one million Australians had marched in support. Corporate reputations were in tatters, after appointing a mining magnate – who’d accused Aboriginal Peoples of `cannibalism and infanticide¿ – to head the Business Council of Australia. Now the situation is reversed. Aboriginal Peoples are divided and corporations smell of roses. How did it happen? The richest hundred plus corporations on the stock exchange make up the Business Council of Australia. Lindy Nolan’s meticulously researched book, blows the lid on a BCA plan to create a more corporate-friendly Aboriginal leadership across the country, and the growing grassroots resistance they are meeting.”
This Saturday, 17 February, Nolan will be visiting the Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre to speak about her research along with local elder, Tracey Howie and Darkinoong leader Renee Sales.
This event will run from 3pm to 5pm and the cost will be $10, payable at the door, to cover room hire and associated expenses.
Attendees will be witness to an intimate discussion on the findings by Lindy Nolan who has documented the layers of corporate entities involved in Aboriginal Land Councils.
Custodians will explain the impact of this on custodians’ ability to have a say in their communities and to continue to look after Country.
Audience members will also have a chance to ask questions about this research. Community Voice Australia is hosting the event and will chair the Q&A session.
You can access Lindy’s book for free here https://au.spiritofeureka.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Driving-Disunity-PDF-Ebook.pdf – see attached flier for more information
