Dear Mayor Joanna Gash, The Hon. Shelley Hancock MP and Ann Sudmalis, Re: Land tender 59 Owen Street, Huskisson May we start by wishing you all a Happy New Year. We are writing in regards to the recent interview on ABC Illawarra on Monday 5th January in which Mayor Joanna Gash indicated that she believes that “the community has stated that it doesn’t want any development at all on this land” and in the newspaper that “council could not afford to invest in the site, particularly because the community is opposed to development on the land.” (Sun-Herald 04/01/15 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/shoalhaven-council-to-decide-fate-of-prime-huskisson-land-20150103-12ecdh.html). As representatives of Huskisson and Jervis Bay’s residents, business and tourism associations, we have indicated to Council on many occasions and meetings since December 2013 that we are open to discussion and welcome any suggestions that will enable us to resolve this issue in a way that is favourable to all stakeholders. As you all know, the 2014 Shoalhaven Council Tourism Master Plan established this iconic outlook and land area in Huskisson (Gateway to Jervis Bay) as key to tourism for the area - the region’s main economy. Its recommendation was that ‘Council may have to buy the land and turn it into parkland’. The Sun-Herald also quoted Mayor Gash as saying, "There are many avenues of development that could preserve the view. The community needs to come to grips with this." This is a slightly surprising comment (if it isn’t a misquote) because in our recent presentation to Shoalhaven City Council’s ordinary meeting on 16th December in Ulladulla, we specifically provided development suggestions that would preserve the view! Please find a copy of our presentation from the meeting online (http://www.slideshare.net/HeartofHuskisson/save-the-heart-of-huskissonpresentation-to-shoalhaven-city-council). We would be grateful if you could provide specific feedback on our suggestion to create a mixed-use, green roof, architectural destination. We also ask that Mayor Gash urgently advises the electorate exactly what she means by “many avenues of development that preserve the view”, and whether it would be Council’s intention to build or sanction any structures that rise above Owen Street level if it were to contribute towards buying the land? We request that Council informs the community openly on its intentions about all these matters before the extraordinary council meeting on the 22nd January that is being specifically held to discuss this land. The Sun-Herald also quoted Mayor Joanna Gash saying that ‘creating a public space is not revenue generating and therefore of little interest to State and Federal Government’. Shelley Hancock and Ann Sudmalis: could you please confirm whether you agree that is correct, and whether this is a conclusion reached in the ‘three tiers of government’ meeting that you promised the community you would hold in early December? Developing the block in such a way to obscure this valuable view clearly contradicts the economic and tourism objectives aims of Local, State and Federal Governments. We have suggested that the block could be mixed use by developing it that so that it could be revenue raising and employment generating: both directly, by creating an active community/event open space/amphitheatre above and commercial space under as well as indirectly, by creating a tourism destination in itself (see our deputation to council). Obviously, the stunning view of the Creek and Jervis Bay is already employment and revenue generating for Huskisson as it is our main attraction and ‘point of difference’. Shelley Hancock, you indicated at the Huskisson community public meeting in early December that you agree that preserving this view is crucial to the future of Jervis Bay’s tourism economy and to the whole South Coast. You said you ‘don’t like to give up’ and you made a public commitment to go away and try to find NSW State money to contribute to the purchase of the block? Could you please let the community know the result of this commitment? This is an open letter and we await your responses as soon as possible please. Kind regards, Save the Heart of Huskisson Campaign Group www.heartofhuskisson.org