Toolijooa protest plan

KATINA CURTIS

THE Toolijooa community is preparing for a battle to oppose the proposed development in the valley and they need your help.

Toolijooa Road is lined with signs opposing the development and the community is organising a rally to take place during the Land and Environment Court’s site visit tomorrow (Thursday).

Toolijooa-Harley Hill Protection Group spokesman Steve Carr said they expected to get about 400 people at the protest.

“This is the big push now and when you look at the amount of submissions (to council) and between the press coverage and letterbox drops and word of mouth, we expect there’s going to be a big turnout,” he said.

“Council said the more people we have out there to show their objection to the court and the commission the better because it is a community issue.”

Residents held a working bee last weekend to make the signs lining the road and Mr Carr said there were plenty spare, as well as bumper stickers. He said those who wanted to make their own signs needed to be politically correct and not make personal attacks on the developer Wygiren or the landowners, the Weir family.

He also said those coming out tomorrow should bring a hat and water and be aware there were no public toilet facilities.

Mr Carr and other members of the protection group will give sworn statements at the hearing in Kiama Courthouse tomorrow and Friday.

He encouraged people to attend the sessions in Kiama Courthouse tomorrow afternoon and Friday and to go to Sydney the following week if possible.

“All these actions show the judge and commissioners the community’s unified rejection of this development,” he said.