MEMBER for Kiama Gareth Ward has declared his lack of confidence in the Killalea State Park Trust, raising the possibility of dismissing part of its membership.
The Trust will present a business plan to the State Government next month, which includes a proposed $8-10 entry fee to the park. An annual pass, costing between $80-100 would also be available.
Other proposed changes included the construction of six cabins adjoining the existing camping grounds, expanding the primitive camping area and a new southern entrance to the park. “I have now lost confidence in the chair of the Trust,” Mr Ward said. “He has failed to consult with the community on this issue. There are serious questions about the membership of the Trust and I have asked the Minister’s office to review the situation and canvass all options, including dismissing members of the Trust.”
The park receives about $240,000 annually from the State Government.
Trust president Ed Gilmore said the combination of a gate fee, cabins and camping expansion would “bring us to about breaking even”.“The previous government told us to go ahead and put in a gate fee to be in line with the other developed state parks in NSW,” he said.
Save Killalea Alliance secretary Mairi Petersen said the gate fee proposal was “totally wrong” and “underhanded”. “The reason for them mooting a fee is they need the money and other parks have fees,” she said. “Some state parks do have fees, but those aren’t coastal parks, most (of which) don’t have fees.”
Ms Petersen also criticised the Trust’s lack of transparency. “The Trust is meant to be there, supporting and guarding Killalea for us,” she said. “They never ask the residents what we want to do, they tell us after the fact. They should have come to the general public… They never do that. Instead, they make decisions behind closed doors and never tell a soul.”
Ms Petersen also suggested the gate fee would deter many visitors from attending the park, and would also incur substantial costs to pay those manning the gates.
Illawarra Greens member Peter Moran claimed the Trust were out of touch with the community. “It’s (gate fees) not what the community desires or what the community needs,” he said.
Mr Gilmore said the park could not continue to lose money and a compromise had to be found. “We still certainly have the best interests of the park at heart,” he said. “But we can’t keep losing money. If the new State Government is in a position to provide more funds, we might be in a position to not have a gate fee. I don’t think that will happen and they’ll still want it to be self-funded.”
Mr Moran also criticised Mr Ward for allegedly back-flipping on the issue, following comments made at a public meeting regarding Killalea earlier this year.
“Gareth said he was opposed to a gate fee and commercial development and said the State Government would continue to fund the park,” he said. “Something has now changed… That’s a bit of a back-flip.”
Mr Ward refuted claims he had broken any promises, saying the Trust needed to complete their business case for why the changes should be made.
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