The
Sydney Morning Herald,
24 September 2020:
One
of the NSW Nationals' most vocal opponents of the koala planning
policy relayed concerns about the divisive issue to Planning Minister
Rob Stokes on behalf of political donors connected to a major
property venture.
Nationals
MP for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead wrote to Mr Stokes in February,
passing on an email from Raymond Stack, the chairman of Stacks
Finance, concerning the state’s new koala planning policy.
The
letter to Mr Bromhead from Mr Stack on February 24, released to NSW
Parliament on Wednesday, included correspondence from two other
engineering and land development companies raising concerns with the
state’s koala planning policy.
"Is
there anything that can be done to delay it 'till there is proper
consultation," Mr Stack wrote to Mr Bromhead……
It
follows confirmation from Mr Stokes' office that the only
stakeholder correspondence he received from Nationals leader and
Deputy Premier John Barilaro about the policy was from developer and
former Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy.
The
Stack family are donors to the Liberal and Nationals parties at a
state and federal level.
Mr
Stack is also one of several directors of Hocana Pty Ltd, which owns
land set to become part of the multimillion-dollar Taree development
Figtrees on the Manning.
He
made a $100,000 donation to the federal Liberal Party ahead of the
2016 election, according to electoral commission disclosure records.
"So
far as I know that donation was a perfectly legitimate donation and I
reported it as required," Paul Stack said.
Other
members of the Stack family have made donations to the Nationals,
including a $2000 donation in 2015 to the party, labelled "Stephen
Bromhead election campaign".
There
is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the Stack family…..
The
other businesses featured in the email chain Mr Bromhead forwarded to
the Planning Minister were Hopkins Consulting and Land Dynamics
Australia.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 September 2020:
The koala planning policy, which sparked the bitter civil war in the Coalition, will be debated at the next cabinet meeting on October 6, with the Nationals demanding a raft of changes.
Port Stephens Examiner, 10 September 2020:
A grassroots campaign to save the threatened Port Stephens koala population in Brandy Hill has resulted in Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley delaying her decision on the proposed expansion of a rock quarry operated by Hanson. Ms Ley was expected to hand down a decision on Tuesday, September 8 but a concerted community push led by Brandy Hill and Seaham Action Group (BHSAG) has resulted in a stay of execution and the deadline for a decision being extended to October 13. The quarry expansion, which includes 52 hectares of core koala habitat, was granted by the Independent Planning Commission in July, but required federal approval because the project had been deemed likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 September 2020:
The koala planning policy, which sparked the bitter civil war in the Coalition, will be debated at the next cabinet meeting on October 6, with the Nationals demanding a raft of changes.
Port Stephens Examiner, 10 September 2020:
A grassroots campaign to save the threatened Port Stephens koala population in Brandy Hill has resulted in Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley delaying her decision on the proposed expansion of a rock quarry operated by Hanson. Ms Ley was expected to hand down a decision on Tuesday, September 8 but a concerted community push led by Brandy Hill and Seaham Action Group (BHSAG) has resulted in a stay of execution and the deadline for a decision being extended to October 13. The quarry expansion, which includes 52 hectares of core koala habitat, was granted by the Independent Planning Commission in July, but required federal approval because the project had been deemed likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance.
The Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie NSW:
Evans Head CW
On examination CW was found to have a ruptured left eye and minor limb injuries – consistent with being hit by a car. His left eye was removed, and he was placed into care and was treated for his injuries. CW will be part of the hospital’s breeding program.
Ballina Franklin
This young male koala was admitted into care, responding well to treatment with his care progressing as expected. Ballina Franklin is not only now part of our permanent team of koalas, but he is now an integral part of our wild koala breeding program – something we are sure he will handle quite well!
Evans Head CW
On examination CW was found to have a ruptured left eye and minor limb injuries – consistent with being hit by a car. His left eye was removed, and he was placed into care and was treated for his injuries. CW will be part of the hospital’s breeding program.
Ballina Franklin
This young male koala was admitted into care, responding well to treatment with his care progressing as expected. Ballina Franklin is not only now part of our permanent team of koalas, but he is now an integral part of our wild koala breeding program – something we are sure he will handle quite well!
Tyler koala this morning was about 80 metres from the proposed Toondah Harbour environmental destruction area, near the proposed new location for the ferry terminal. #toondahharbour #koalas #qldpol #Queensland pic.twitter.com/L8mZ6qInjj— Chris Walker (@WildRedlands) September 24, 2020
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