BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE
Port Stephens Council and the State Government have today announced they'll join together to conduct a feasibility report into a buy-back of the Mambo Wanda Wetlands.
It comes after more than 10,000 signatures were collected last week from community members in support of a state-government buy-back, just in time for World Wetlands Day.
NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian wrote to Port Stephens Council informing them the Department of Planning would investigate purchasing the Mambo Wetlands through the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.
Council are describing the news as a huge win for the community, saying the onerous process of land acquisition would likely be aided by Minister for Planning Anthony Robert's consideration.
However Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington, says the report is too little, too late.
"Instead of actually announcing that they're going to buy it back, all they're doing is investigating the feasibility of buying it back; now that's far from good enough," she said.
"This was sold almost 18 months ago- they've admitted it was a mistake to sell it off in the first place...they just need to buy it back."
Ms Washington believes the report is just "more words" from the state government, and she's more alarmed than ever.
"It sounds like they haven't been doing anything, if they're announcing they're looking into it today- what have they been doing for the past 18 months?"
The announcement comes as Kate Washington prepares to table the issue of a Mambo buy-back before NSW parliament tomorrow.
