Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, has written and hand delivered a letter to the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Robert Stokes, calling for the immediate withdrawal of an application to build a 136,000 plot cemetery on the Scenic Hills in an effort to secure the future protection of the heritage significant site.

Despite consistent strong opposition from the community, the Department of Planning and Environment has approved the Catholic Cemeteries Trust’s proposal through its Gateway process for it to proceed to public exhibition.

Mr Chanthivong said he was appalled with the decision, which showed complete disregard for the community’s long-held opposition to development on the Scenic Hills.

“For generations, the Scenic Hills has been protected and preserved by the Campbelltown community, and the issue has seen unanimous support from all sides of politics on Campbelltown City Council,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“The fight to protect the Hills has been long and hard – and it’s not over yet. As the Member for Macquarie Fields, I will continue the fight to protect this important natural asset on behalf of our community.

“The Scenic Hills not only provides a unique and beautiful backdrop to the City of Campbelltown – it has major heritage significance and provides valuable open space for our growing and vibrant community.

“I will be calling for the ongoing protection of this important site, both now and into the future,” Mr Chanthivong added.

“To place the proposal on public exhibition and then ask the applicant for further information is deeply concerning, and I question the validity of this process.  

“I will continue to work closely with the community to ‘Save Our Scenic Hills’, as our unique heritage and valuable open space must be protected,” Mr Chanthivong added.