"No development at Killalea." That was the clear message from the thousand-strong crowd at a protest and world record-breaking paddle out on Saturday morning at The Farm.
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That was the clear message from the thousand-strong crowd at a protest and world record-breaking paddle out on Saturday morning at The Farm.
Killalea National Surfing Reserve Committee and the Save Killalea Alliance came together to hold the third public meeting and a paddle-out to protest the proposed developments at Killalea State Park.
Park managers, Reflections Holiday Park, with the help of a $6.5 million state government grant, want to build 15 luxury eco-cabins, a 200-seat wedding and function centre, 53 fully-serviced campsites, a new playground, walking trails and outdoor recreational equipment.
But the crowd, speakers and 682 participants in the paddle out want the site, which was donated to the public as a surfing reserve in 2009, to remain untouched due the environmental, social and cultural benefits that have been enjoyed and loved by generations of locals and visitors.
The crowd regularly erupted into applause and cheers in support of the points made in the speeches.
Killalea National Surfing Reserve Committee member Chris Homer said he was proud of breaking the paddle out world record, which was previously achieved by 511 participants of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum in California.
He led the crowd in a simple but powerful chant, "no means no" before adding he hoped the Reflections management team heard the protestors' wishes.
"This is all about Reflections accepting our answer at the end of the day. We want it as it is. It is not about monetising this park, it is Crown land," Mr Homer said.
Ray Mahony fought plans to impose a fee for accessing the beach 26 years ago and is continuing to fight for the preservation of the site.
"We opposed it because getting to the beach for free is an Australian birthright," he said. "No group or no one owns it. We didn't really know what we were doing back then, we were just surfers and people with families.
"We knew the idea could not go unchallenged.
"That is an ongoing thread. The feeling about Killalea doesn't diminish. It is the heart and soul of the Illawarra. We must stand together.
"We don't want the place ruined. We don't want grandiose buildings, or it to tarted up and turned into a money-making enterprise."
Mr Mahony said the state government should provide money to a community committee to run the site, as it belonged to all NSW residents and was gifted to the Illawarra as a free and open space for everyone to access.
Save Killalea Alliance convener Peter Moran chaired the protest and proposed a motion that rejected Reflections' plan for Killalea, called on the state government to remove Reflections as the park's managers and requested the government reinstate a community-based trust with management responsibilities and funding so the park could meet the community's needs as a place of environmental, ecological, cultural and social significance.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said she would raise the motion on the floor of Parliament next week and in her speech noted her long support of the community's views to have The Farm remain the way it is now.
"This land is scared, iconic, to this community," she said. "I've had many swims and brought my family here.
"When you turn around and look back, you see how the Aborginals would have seen it all those years ago - untouched, pristine, beautiful land and that's the way we are going to keep it."
Ms Watson said she hoped Reflections understood the community was not interested in any development of the land.
"Leave it alone," she said.
Uncle Richard Davis, in his welcome to country, encouraged Reflections and Shellharbour Council to "think about" what they proposing for site.
"Let's keep it rather than develop on important parts of land," he said.
Alliance committee member John Davey said the proposed development to increase tourism failed on three fronts: the "right scale, right location and bringing economic benefit".
Alliance committee member Natalie Olender and Clarence Slockee, who prompts Aboriginal culture and bush tucker, spoke of the threatened flora and fauna species that had ecological significance and rely on the site.
A Reflections Holiday Park spokeswoman said the management team postponed the planned drop-in information session on Saturday to give protesters the chance to have their say.
She said the Reflections team had heard the strong sentiments of the community during consultation in the past week, adding there would be more feedback sought.
The spokeswoman said Reflections planned to come to Killalea again to reach more people and have productive consultation as they knew the site was a special place and they needed to get the plans right.
The alliance also started a petition people can sign to stop the development.
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