Hilltop Residents Action Group Inc
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 25 November 2009
HILLTOP LOCALS BEAT 3A
NSW LAND AND ENVIRONMENT COURT HALTS WORK ON
CONTROVERSIAL SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS SHOOTING COMPLEX
Following their victory yesterday (24 Nov 09) in the NSW Land and Environment Court, the local community
of Hilltop in the NSW Southern Highlands continues to call on the State Government to find a new location for
the planned major shooting range in the area.
The Hilltop Residents Action Group has been calling on the NSW Government to choose between other sites
put forward which are less environmentally sensitive and without expensive problems with noise, access road
safety, bushfire risk and proximity to a community.
The decision by the NSW Land and Environment Court will be a blow to the NSW Shooters Party which had
been promised
by the NSW Government
the hugely expanded facility in return for its support to pass
important government legislation in the NSW Legislative Council.
The NSW Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally had approved the Southern Highlands Regional Shooting
Complex in February under the controversial part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979. The project was to be funded with nearly $10 million of taxpayers’ money.
Local residents at Hilltop were incensed at the lack of consultation and consideration of alternative sites for
the project and took action in the NSW Land Environment Court to stop it.
Justice Biscoe yesterday declared the governmental approval of the project under the controversial 3A
legislation void and prohibited further work on the development.
“This is a resounding victory for local people against the bulldozing tactics of the NSW Government and the
Shooters Party,’ said Hilltop Residents Action Group spokeswoman, Jodie Laing.
“The plain fact is that this development is too big, too close to Hilltop and too dangerous. The shooting range
would deliver thousands of tonnes
of lead into Sydney’s water catchment and disrupt the lives of local
residents including the kids at the local primary school,” Ms Laing added.
The Hilltop Residents Action Group has provided a myriad of alternative locations for the shooting range, all
of which the NSW Government has refused to consider to-date.
The court’s decision is also another blow to the NSW Government’s fondness for using Part 3A of the EPA
Act to push through pet projects in the face of opposition from local communities.
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