THE Karuah Progress Association have recently drafted a petition objecting to Port Stephens Council's plan to sell off and develop seven blocks of land in Aliceton Reserve, Karuah.
The association aims to stop the development and sale of land zoned 2(a) in Aliceton Reserve Lot 61 Karuah and hopes to convince council to rezone all land in Lot 61 to 6(a) parkland.
President of the Karuah Progress Association, Fred McInerney, believes many people in the community object strongly to the sale of any part of Aliceton Reserve and he urges these people to show their concern by signing the "Save Aliceton Reserve" petition, which has been on display at the Karuah Post Office and Karuah Pharmacy since early last week.
Mayor of Port Stephens, Cr Craig Baumann, said the Progress Association have every right in the world to draft a petition, but explained that this issue hasn't even been before council yet.
"In the long run it is just a part of us doing business, money doesn't grow on trees and we are trying to do the best we can with what we've got.
"We are certainly not doing this without regard to the community and in time they will hopefully understand that we are trying to look after them," he said.
Members of the Progress Association believe history shows that Mabel Rose Engel made a gift of Aliceton Reserve to the community of Karuah, meaning that the land in question is donated community land held by council.
"Before 1973 the land we know as Aliceton Reserve belonged to the Engel's.
"In 1978 the land was transferred to Port Stephens Council.
"In 1987 (the year Mabel Rose died) council applied to state government to have the whole of Aliceton Reserve zoned residential.
"State government made council zone the majority of the land 6(a) reserve, but left some as 2(d) residential.
"In 2000 the part of Aliceton Reserve zoned residential was given the updated residential zoning 2(a)," said Mr McInerney.
Progress Association members are also concerned with the approximate 300 lots that are planned for development in Karuah in the next three to four years within a radius of around four kilometres to the town centre.
"To our knowledge, no public parkland is set aside as part of these developments," said Mr McInerney.
"This intensive residential development around town means that parkland in Karuah will be restricted so we need to keep valuable parkland now and in the future," he added.
Representatives of the Karuah Progress Association have discussed their concerns with Port Stephens Mayor, Cr Baumann, General Manager Peter Gesling and Group Manager Business & Support, Stewart Murrell.
Mr McInerney told the NOTA he was not impressed that they were unable to guarantee that any funds from the land sale would be spent on Aliceton Reserve or Karuah.
Cr Baumann explained that he couldn't guarantee what will happen because the process hasn't advanced that far yet, but said he would certainly recommend to council that the money should go back into the Karuah community.
"Council hold the land in question on behalf of the community and it is up to the councillors to decide what will ultimately happen with it," he said.
"Allocating at least 30 per cent back into the reserve and 70 per cent back into investments would be the ideal outcome," added Cr Baumann.
There are 30 members in the Karuah Progress Association and Mr McInerney said they are all against the proposal.
"I am expecting enormous support from the rest of the community on this matter," he said.
Cr Baumann said he is not sure how many people object to the proposal as he has only had meetings with concerned members of one organisation, the Karuah Progress Association.
"I suppose we will find out when we see how many people sign the petition," he said.
Mr McInerney also disagrees with the short consultation period, with August 23 the closing date for submissions.
A standard planning letter dated August 7 was sent out by council to adjoining or adjacent properties to Aliceton Reserve outlining the proposed plans.
"If there is concern with the level of time given to the consultation period I am sure some sort of extension could be worked out," concluded Cr Baumann.
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