SHELLHARBOUR City Councillor Peter Moran “will not cease” his advocacy of protecting Killalea State Park from development, despite being stripped of his role as the council delegate on the trust board.

At the last meeting, Cr Paul Rankin nominated Mayor Marianne Saliba as the new ex-officio on the Killalea State Park Trust, which oversee the operation and financing of the park under Trade and Investment Crown Lands. 

The move came as a shock to the re-appointed community Trust member Cr Helen Stewart and former member Peter Moran. 

Prior to being appointed as the ex-officio three years ago, Cr Moran had worked closely with the Save Killalea Alliance for three years. 

“I won’t have formal interaction with the trust, however my advocacy on behalf of the park will not cease, I will just go back to advocating as a community member,” he said.

Cr Helen Stewart said at the meeting that she was “appalled” the matter had not been communicated earlier. 

Cr Moran said the current provisions set out in the 2000 Local Environment Plan (LEP) gave legs to a $35 million proposal to build 106 accommodation lodges on the park that he claims was “pushed” by the Labor Party and later lost following community up-roar.

“I am not sure if this was a political attack on me or whether it was a way for the Labor Party to get their foot in the door and allow further development at Killalea,” he said.

“I am concerned Marianne will have influence that will see greater commercial use of the park and influence council officer’s recommendations as to what the provisions for the park are.”

However, Cr Saliba said she had no intention to commercially develop the park but rather it was simply a case of “new blood and a new pair of eyes”.

“Every two years council nominate one of the councillors to be the delegate on the trust board and this was the second chance we had to nominate another person and this time I was nominated. That is the only reason,” Cr Saliba said.

“The point from our perspective is we see it as being a really important part of the community and I want to ensure to longevity.”

Cr Saliba said it was a high priority of hers to retain the parks natural beauty and while she had no intention to develop the area, she would discuss with the board options for broadening the opportunity to attract more people to the park, such as low-impact cabins.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said he was “perplexed” as to the reasons behind why councillors had revoked the decision to appoint Cr Moran in the September call meeting and without any notice.

“If Labor seek to play politics with public open space I will not hesitate in calling the minister to prevent any privatisation of public open space at Killalea State Park,” he said.