|
Links supporters take protest to Parliament |
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Friday, 12 May 2006 |
|
But they?ve missed the bus says BRLUPA, Government. Meanwhile Springborg says: ?I?ll reverse the decision?.
ABOUT 80 Montville residents and business operators arrived by bus to deliver a letter to Premier Peter Beattie at Tuesday sitting of Parliament. SMART (Save Montville And Revitalise Tourism) spokesperson Lindi Devereux said the protesters wanted a fair go.
?Although the premier has announced a decision on this project we can prove it was based on a vast amount of false information,?? she said. ?There is anger amongst the community. We feel that the Premier has snubbed us. He has not been fair or balanced in his assessment by allowing a small politically motivated opposition group from outside the village to influence the decision. Yet he has refused to talk to us, the people and businesses most affected - those of us living and working in Montville. This is a denial of natural justice and many feel aggrieved. This matter is far from over.?
Ms Devereux said residents were determined to highlight the level of ?misrepresentation? of the Premier?s consultants? report upon which he based his decision. She said Montville people feel snubbed by the Premier who has not met with them, despite numerous requests and despite meeting with Links opponents.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has pledged his support on the grounds that this was a political decision. He said he would reverse the decision if he won government.
?When you consider the 1000 jobs, $6m/annum trade boost for the town plus the $15m of infrastructure which the town stands to lose the decision beggars belief and flies in the face of ?smart state? thinking,? Mr Springborg said.
?This has only just begun,? said Ms Devereux. ?We?re not going away and a lot of other things are going to become a part of it. This is probably going to become something very small in something much larger.
Meanwhile Blackall Range Land Use Spokesperson Cheryl Keith said the SMART rally had missed the bus on the issue. Claims that the Premier?s decision to refuse the Links development was based on a ?vast amount of false information? was utter codswallop, she said.
?They can argue the finer details of the consultants? report - which assessed Links? own application, and ultimately reflected concerns raised by Council?s professional staff - until they?re blue in the face. This has no bearing on the incontrovertible planning issues.?
She said the incontrovertible planning issues were as follows:
? The project entailed ?significant levels of
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 12 May 2006 )
|
Range News 2005 - ON 
