Ref:- Kurri Kurri & Weston Independent - 3/4/2002

Long-time Labour voters in the Kurri Kurri area have threatened to abandon the ALP following the Minister for Planning Andrew Refshauge's decision to approve the Tomalpin Industrial Estate recently.

Local resident and Friends of Tumblebee member, John Stauffer, has expressed his disappointment that the Minister has appoved the site without adequate answers to problems such as traffic, pollution and the environment.

He is also asking why both the Minister and the Member for Cessnock, Kerry Hickey, have claimed that 10,000 jobs would be created when PPK Consultants who provided the Traffic Study had estimated a maximum number of 6,600. Mr Stauffer feels that perhaps an apology is due to the public for creating false expectations.

Group member, and resident of Pelaw Main, Barry Calderwood said that Tomalpin would now become a State Election issue. He added that support for the Friends of Tumblebee had grown considerably since the Minister's "poorly informed" decision.

"We will lobby for as long as it takes to protect this area", he said. "It is not a suitable area for heavy industry".

The Friends of Tumblebee voted recently to begin the process to lobby for the Tomalpin Bushland to be made into a combination of National Park and State Recreation Area.