Fee too much for Block project

The block - Stand-off … the site for which 62 houses are proposed.

THE Aboriginal Housing Company has accused the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, of "trying to crucify" an ambitious housing plan for the Block in Redfern after his department refused to waive a $60,000 development application processing fee for the project.

The Pemulwuy Project, a $50 million plan for 62 houses, a gym and an elders' centre, is on hold because the not-for-profit housing company says it cannot afford the processing fee.

"We are a charitable organisation and we don't receive any money from the Government," said the head of the Aboriginal Housing Company, Mick Mundine. "We don't understand why they need $60,000 just to look at our DA, but they wrote back saying they won't let us off the fee."

The company's project manager, Peter Valilis, said money could not be raised from investors until the the development application was passed.

"Frank Sartor is a guy who just does not want this new complex to go ahead," said Mr Valilis, who added that the company would refuse to pay the fee.

"It is really just a stand-off. They have said they will not do an assessment on the project until they get their money, so it could sit there indefinitely."

Mr Sartor has argued that the Pemulwuy Project is too big and that 62 houses is too many for the Block, which is private land owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company.

He attracted controversy in 2005 when he said Mr Mundine should "bring your black arse" down to his office to discuss plans for the Block. Mr Sartor apologised.

A spokesman for the Planning Department said the Aboriginal Housing Company was being treated like any other applicant.

"The fees to be charged by the Department of Planning for the assessment of development proposals are prescribed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation. As such, the department charges proponents these fees, including other state agencies such as the Department of Housing and the Department of Health."

Processing fees cover the department's work assessing proposals, public exhibition and notification, consulting other agencies and presenting an assessment report for the minister.

The spokesman said the Planning Department was awaiting more information from the Aboriginal Housing Company, such as the final investment value of the project.

"While the Aboriginal Housing Company has now provided the Department with most of the information requested, the proposal is not able to proceed to public exhibition until these last remaining critical pieces of information are provided."

Why you got stuck: Operation Avert

Police today revealed why thousands were stuck for more than four hours in a Sydney traffic jam yesterday while a shot was fired during a chase.

It was all part of Operation Avert, a major three-day police action that led to 460 arrests, including more than 200 for outstanding warrants and 55 for breach of bail. Some 640 charges were laid.

A police officer fired at a stolen four-wheel-drive because its occupants drove towards a fellow policeman, police said today.

The shot was fired at the beginning of the pursuit through Redfern and down Parramatta Road yesterday, which involved up to 30 police cars, several undercover vehicles and a police helicopter.

Police said they spotted the allegedly stolen vehicle in the Redfern area during Operation Avert, a state-wide crackdown on outstanding offenders.

A check showed it had been linked to several unsolved armed robberies.

Police followed it and stopped it in Cleveland Street, Redfern. An officer approached and tried to speak to the driver. But the driver motored towards him, so another officer, fearing for his colleague's safety, fired a shot.

The pursuit ended in Strathfield, where it hit a stationary car. Three men tried to run. Two were arrested nearby, and the third was arrested during a raid on a unit block by heavily armed officers several hours later.

It left westbound motorists stuck in gridlock at peak hour.

Peak-hour chase suspect 'may sue police'
An unlicensed driver who is alleged to have led police on a chase through Sydney's inner west last night has told a court he is considering legal action against the police. It is alleged 27-year-old Mustafa Dagdanasa was at the wheel of a four-wheel drive that led police on a chase through rush-hour traffic. Dagdanasa is facing a number of charges, including stealing a vehicle, driving without a licence, dangerous driving and using a vehicle to avoid being caught. The prosecution opposed bail, saying his actions could have caused serious injury or death to the police chasing him. Dagdanasa has told Burwood Local Court he was uninvolved and was walking down Parramatta Road after a meal when several police threw him to the ground, punched, kicked and arrested him. He asked the court to order that photographs be taken of his injuries but was told he would have to arrange that through his lawyer. Dagdanasa has been refused bail until his legal representative can attend court.