Local residents say Shoalhaven Council’s decision to add the former Huskisson Anglican Church property to the Heritage list is a win for communities working together against inappropriate developments.
The Huskisson Heritage Association has been campaigning for five years to stop a plan to demolish the church and develop the site which was originally gifted to the Anglican church by the community.
The site contains a large number of graves, both European and Indigenous. Plans to excavate and develop it are also opposed by the local Jerrinja Land Council which owns the adjoining block of land, which is also recommended for heritage listing.
Heritage Association president, Shirley Fitzgerald, said Council received 102 submissions on the heritage listing. 100 were in favour of the church site being protected. The two objecting letters were both from the hopeful developer.
The listing is supported by Heritage NSW and the property is already listed by the National Trust.
“It beggars’ belief that a developer, who claims that he stands to make a profit in excess of $60 million, believes he can go against the obvious heritage and geological evidence and the overwhelming will of the local community,” she said.
“We are expecting further action as a result, but tonight’s decision is recognition that development at any cost is never acceptable.”
Dr Fitzgerald says the community calls on the owner to meet undertakings to properly maintain the church and to protect trees on the site.
“The church has been allowed to deteriorate,” she said. “It needs urgent care and attention. Other owners clean their gutters and keep their properties painted.”
The community will be holding a vigil at the site on Saturday 16th March to celebrate the heritage listing and to call on the developer to listen to the interests of residents.
