The Hon Craig Knowles MP
Minister for Planning
Parliament House, SYDNEY 2000

Dear Minister,

 Honeysuckle Growth Centre

Please find the attached copy of ‘Planning News’ No.20 Oct. 1997. It explains the provisions of the State Government’s statutory Regional Environmental Plan Amendment No.3. (Gazetted.10/12/97)

Also attached is a copy of the map of the Honeysuckle Growth Centre.

Honeysuckle Corporation is a Ministerial Corporation governed by the Growth Centres Act 1974 with power to resume land and advise on development within the Growth Centre.

It is a Corporation subject in all respects to the control and direction of the Minister.

The 2002 Order published in the Government Gazette December 13th 2002 extended the Honeysuckle Growth Centre area over most of inner Newcastle as shown in the enclosed plan.

It is essential that the State Government make the Honeysuckle Growth Centre “Approved Scheme” for the whole area open and available to the people of NSW and the public generally.

The community is concerned at the failure of the Corporation to implement the State Government’s Central Honeysuckle Regional Environmental Plan Amendment No.3.

If the development that has occurred is compared with the official plan you will see that the development is contrary to the plan. Furthermore if you compare the development of Central Honeysuckle with the Approved Scheme for the Growth Centre you will find that it conflicts with the scheme. To the unbiased observer it would appear that the corporation has been acting in an arbitrary way in the implementation of official planning schemes.

The building out of the promised 1997 Flinders Cove and the privatisation of Merewether St Wharf and walling off of view corridors to the harbour is not shown in either the Approved Scheme or the Minister’s REP No.3.

Parks and Playgrounds Movement requests that a Commission of Inquiry be established to reconsider all aspects of the Honeysuckle Growth Centre and the Approved Scheme with the view to the full revision of the Growth Centre and its Approved Scheme.

Yours sincerely,

Doug Lithgow Freeman of the City of Newcastle