The Department of Planning said the fees have to be paid to
ensure it can adequately assess and report on the submission.
Community group REDWatch believes if the government is
serious about getting the project up and running it should waive the fee.
The AHC told the SSH the company is approaching break-even
point for the first time in its 35-year history, and could not afford $180,000
in fees.
“We have resisted selling any land since the project started
up nine years ago,” Mr Valilis said. “We are not making any money on this
development. This is a community project. All our housing is affordable
housing. We are doing the job for government. They can use our project as a
model for other areas. We’re essentially saving them money.”
REDWatch’s Geoff Turnbull said the business community was
tired of waiting for a project that has been on the drawing board for nine
years.
“There is a general position held in the business community
that they want to see the situation evolve,” Mr Turnbull said. “It’s crazy it
has been allowed to drag on this long.”
The Department told the SSH exact fees for the Pemulwuy
Project, with a construction value of around $50 million according to the AHC,
will be determined when the AHC submits final capital investment figures.
“Such fees cover the Department’s independent and thorough
work assessing proposals, which includes ensuring the proposal is adequate for
exhibition, consulting with other agencies, assessing the project and then
producing an assessment report for decision,” a Department spokesperson said.
Mr Turnbull suggested the RWA make a grant to the AHC to
“fast-track” the process.
“Here’s a project that supports the RWA’s objectives in
terms of affordable housing and the Indigenous. I would expect them to be
supporting it,” Mr Turnbull said.
In the 2007 financial year, the RWA outlaid $827,166 in
grants to community organisations, with Kidspeak and Barnardos ($581,124),
Mudgin-Gal ($70,000) and Centacare ($70,000) recipients of the largest funding
amounts.
Mr Valilis said the concept plan for the Pemulwuy Project
submitted to the Department in November last year would have cost them around
$250,000 if it weren’t for the pro bono efforts of architect Peter Lonergan and
others.
The RWA declined to comment.
Source:
South Sydney Herald April 2008 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au