Anglican housing plans ‘un-Christian’

nglican housing plans 'un-Christian'

A COMMUNITY group aiming to protect the environment at Sandon Point in Thirroul has accused the Anglican Church of being 'Un-Christian' in its attempts to build a retirement village on the site.

Sandon Point Coalition members Susan Sergent, Jill Merrin and Jill Walker have condemned the Anglican Church, Wollongong Council and the NSW Government for allowing plans for development at Sandon Point, which they say is environmentally important and culturally significant to Aboriginals.

The women say they have written to Anglican Church hierarchy but have not received a response.

They likened the Anglican Retirement Villages organisation to "naughty little boys" who will be "going to sulk" if their preferred plan isn't approved.

They claim that the Anglican Retirement Village's interest in the area is purely monetary and displays a blatant disregard for nature, Aboriginal culture and the elderly clients that they plan to house on the site.

A report by the Aboriginal Advisory Sub Committee claims the area is culturally significant to Aboriginal women.

According to the report Sandon Point was once a significant women's area', where women from all over the south coast would come to meet.

"I think it's about time we showed a bit of respect for the Aboriginal people," Ms Sergent said.

The trio are convinced that the Anglican Church, through ARV, is in direct breach of its own ethical parameters by planning construction on the site and claim that ARV had no consultation with Aboriginal elders while planning the development.

The women also attacked the ARV's choice of site because they claim it is impractical and dangerous to put a retirement village there.

"Why would they build a nursing home next to a railway track that has these big diesel trains running through it (making) the most terrifying noise I've ever heard," said Mrs Sergent, a former nurse.

The proposed developments at Sandon Point - one by Stockland and the other by ARV - have been met with a largely negative response from many locals.

Two separate petitions against the developments in the area, each signed by more than 1,000 people, were presented to council last year.

ARV is awaiting a response from the Department of Planning as to whether riverside protection zones can be reduced so that their original plans to build 250 units into these areas can go ahead.