introduction

Sandon Point comprises 61-hectares of open space between the coastal villages of Thirroul and Bulli in the northern suburbs of Wollongong, on the east coast of NSW, Australia. It is a declared Aboriginal place and significant for a number of reasons including ecological, historical and as public open space.

Members of the local community have worked tirelessly for close to a decade, seeking to protect the area. The Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy (SPATE) was established in December 2000, soon followed by the Sandon Point Community Picket in March 2001. SPATE was rebuilt following an arson attack in 2005. The 24/7 Community Picket structure was destroyed by arson in 2006, transforming into a mobile picket. In the face of such dangerous harassment, the local community nevertheless continues to work to protect and preserve the area

Photographs
Hand it over: Land buyback opposed
Wollongong Advertiser

Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group members Jill Merrin, Alex Peterson and Jill Walker are unhappy Wollongong City Council is spending $1.6 million to buy land from Stockland. The group is urging council to seek to have it given to the community rahter than paying for it.

Huge land deals 'illegal'
The Sydney Morning Herald

MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR land deals the State Government signed with two big Labor Party donors are likely to be ruled illegal by the Land and Environment Court, secret advice to the Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, says.

Government lawyers have proposed rushing retrospective legislation through Parliament next week to validate the contracts and guarantee seven big developments and 12,000 hectares of parkland in the Hunter Valley.

Beach frontage goes to council
Wollongong Advertiser
Kuradji Dreaming: on community, respect and understanding
ABC local radio

The Sandon Point radio doco is finally being broadcast on ABC Radio National’s 360 program!
On the wireless: at 2pm on Radio National in your capital city.
Online: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/360 where if you miss it you can listen online or podcast it. 

Sandon Pt opinions on air
Illawarra Mercury
Sandon Point Betrayed Again by Wollongong Council
Sandon Point Community Picket

Once again Wollongong Council administration has secretly colluded with Stockland to give public money for Stockland’s benefit. The secrecy is alarming as it shows nothing has changed and there is still no transparent due process at Council.  The difference this time is that the Administrators and General Manager have all been involved in “negotiations” although no reports from those negotiations have been made public.

for Aboriginal rights

The Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy (SPATE) and many others in the Illawarra Aboriginal community continue to work towards the protection of Sandon Point

Their actions provide an ongoing expression of the entire area's significance, often in the face of much adversity.

The local community has provided respectful support for SPATE and many others in the local Aboriginal community for several years, seeking to promote respect and recognition.

For the environment

Sandon Point is an ecologically rich area. It is the last green corridor linking the Illawarra Escarpment to the Pacific Ocean.

The confluence of four creeks provides ample habitat for threatened and protected species and an endangered ecological community. It is one of the last refuges on the coastal plain.

Preservation of the area is a great concern amongst the local community, including restoration of past impacts.

For all of us

The Sandon Point area is a rare and singificant area of open space in the north of Wollongong. The opportunities it affords have been enjoyed by the local community and those from afar for a very long time.

Plans have been developed by the local community for the area, including a linked greater-Wollongong foreshores park, under the ordinance of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Parks policy.

People from far and wide continue to flock to Sandon Point to enjoy what it has to offer.