It has been two years since the NSW Government sold the Mambo Wetlands at Salamander Bay and six months since the Premier wrote to Port Stephens Council indicating that the government would explore its options for purchasing the site back.
In her letter, the Premier said the government was looking to purchase the land through the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme which is used to bring coastal lands into public ownership. The Department of Planning administers the scheme, which receives an annual budget allocation of $3 million for strategic acquisitions.
In Parliamentary question time, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington asked the Minister for Planning when the Department will make a determination on the application to repurchase the Mambo Wetlands site at Salamander Bay using the funding from the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.
Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts responded saying the Department of Planning has offered to purchase the land but "at this point in time the owner of the Mambo Wetlands site has not accepted the offer."
Ms Washington said if the owner is not willing to sell it back, the government must use its powers to compulsorily acquire the land.
"The government could have already acquired the land. The government knew when they sold it off, how precious this land was. Once they did it they said it was a mistake. They are responsible for fixing their mistake and they have the power to do it," Ms Washington said.
In March, the NSW Labor opposition committed to buying back the land if it forms government in the March 2019 state election.
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| Mambo Wetlands Site at Salamander Bay. Photo: Port Stephens Examiner. |
