Gosford hearing for Crown Lands inquiry

A public hearing for the NSW Legislative Council's inquiry into Crown Land is expected to be held on August 8 in Gosford.

Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris, had called on the community to make submissions as part of the current NSW Legislative Council inquiry into Crown Lands in NSW but the closing date for submissions was July 24.

Mr Harris said organisations that could be affected by the inquiry, and the new Crown Land legislation that is being proposed by the NSW Government, might include preschools, Scout and Guide groups, nursing homes and some community halls," he said.

"This new legislation will affect many community groups across the Central Coast," Mr Harris said.

According to a Gosford Council land register dated September 2014, the Peninsula has 17 reserves and places of public recreation that are Crown Land, one pathway, and two locations classified as conservation or environmental management that are also listed as Crown Land.

In addition, the Pearl Beach fire station is located on Crown Land.

Mr Harris said the inquiry will be examining the extent of Crown Land and the benefits of active use and management of that land to NSW.

It will be looking into the adequacy of community input and consultation regarding the commercial use and disposal of Crown Land; and the most appropriate and effective measures for protecting Crown Land so that it is preserved and enhanced for future generations.

Another area under consideration by the Legislative Council's committee is the extent of Aboriginal Land Claims over Crown Land and opportunities to increase Aboriginal involvement in the management of Crown land.

NSW Shadow Minister for Local Government, Mr Peter Primrose, said "It will be up to the committee to decide if they will accept submissions past the deadline but they usually do and they will then give consideration to which submission writers will be asked to give evidence at the public hearing," Mr Primrose said.

The secretariat of the General Purpose Standing Committee Number Six, which is conducting the Crown Lands inquiry, confirmed that those invited to be witnesses at public hearings are usually chosen from groups and individuals who have shown interest in the inquiry by making a submission.

Organisations that missed the submission deadline but believe they have a contribution to make at the public hearing can write to the committee asking for permission to speak.

The venue and times for the Gosford hearing were expected to be confirmed shortly after the closing date for submissions on July 24.

Any interested groups or individuals who wish to give feedback should do so via the website: parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2404.

Mr Primrose said the future and management of Crown Land in NSW was "very complex stuff.

"Most people are not aware of the great range and tenure of Crown Land available," he said.

"Most beaches are Crown Land, for example, and then there are Crown Roads.

"As Shadow Minister for Local Government, I am very concerned about what is going to happen to Crown Roads," he said.

Mr Primrose said his concerns were based on the extent of cost shifting that the NSW Government has undertaken in recent years.

Local Government NSW has estimated that the NSW Government is currently shifting $860 million each year across the state off its books and adding it to the costs of local councils that do not have adequate funding to deal with the additional burden, Mr Primrose said.

Website, 20 Jul 2016

NSW Parliament Inquiry into crown lands

Media release, 15 Jul 2016

Jake Allen, office of David Harris

Interview, 20 Jul 2016

Same Griffith, Legislative Council GPSC6

Interview, 20 Jul 2016

Peter Primrose, NSW shadow minister for local government

Gosford Council Land Register, 16 Sep 2014

Reporter: Jackie Pearson