18 May 2016

The Hon. Dominic Perrottet M.P.

Minister for Finance Services and Property
GPO Box 5341
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Via Email: office@perrottet.minister.nsw.gov.au

Dear Minister

I refer to my letter to you dated 10 May 2016 seeking an urgent briefing in relation to the
proposed sale of Lots 560-566 Port Stephens Drive Salamander Bay. This land is currently
owned by the Department of Education but has been regarded for many years, as part of
the Mambo Wetlands. To date, I have not received a response from you to my previous
letter.

Since I last wrote to you, I have met with many residents concerned by the potential sale
of this site. A rally was held on Saturday, 14 May at the site, which was attended by
approximately 200 residents opposed to the sale.

I repeat my request to meet with you or senior staff to discuss the proposed sale. Given
the sale is due to proceed on 6 June 2016, I again ask for an urgent briefing.

Additional concerns that have since been brought to light which relate to the historical,
cultural and environmental significance of the parcel of land. I have met with koala carers
who have undertaken 220 rescues and releases at this site since the year 2000. I have
met with the Landcare members who have cared for this site for over 20 years with the
support of our local council.

For the land to be sold without any consultation with our community is not only upsetting
for many residents, it shows an enormous amount of disrespect for the hard work of
many people who have effectively been its custodian over many years. The sale also
poses a significant threat to the unique environmental and cultural features of the site.

I understand that, prior to the advertised sale, the NSW Government received a report
from planning consultants City Plan Strategy & Development which identified the land as
containing “several endangered and vulnerable flora and fauna species’ as well as
“approximately 50% of the site consists of core koala habitat.” Can you please confirm
that this report, dated 1 April 2016, was received by your Department and what
consideration was given to its content?
I again raise my concerns with the process adopted by the Department of Education for
the sale of the land. With the land to be sold by way of an online auction, with a very
short lead time, it has raised questions of impropriety. In a community that has seen
developer interests prevailing over the interests of the environment and our community
for a very long time, we are very sensitive to the potential for such
improprieties. Community consultation has the benefit of allowing a modicum of
transparency and would be welcomed by a community often kept in the dark.

On behalf of the Mambo Wanda Wetlands Committee, I seek the following:

1. Call on the NSW Minister For Education to cancel the auction

2. Call on the Office of Environment and Heritage to expedite the application to have
mambo declared an aboriginal place.
3. Call on the NSW Minister for Education to pass ownership of the lots to the Port
Stephens Council or another appropriate entity with protections in place as to its future.
4. Call on the Port Stephens Council to move to have all the lots within the Mambo
Wetlands consolidated into a single reserve

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Kate Washington MP
Member for Port Stephens