The state government has dispersed more than $9 million in assets since the Coalition came into office in 2011.
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The figure was divulged in budget estimates this week when it was also revealed the government had sold 384 surplus parcels of Department of Education land.
That included the $250,000 raised from the sale of six hectares on Salamander Way, adjoining the Mambo Wetlands.
Finance Minister Victor Dominello defended the sales, or what the government called “asset recycling”.
"The proceeds from these transactions provide us with billions of dollars of funding which is invested in critical public infrastructure across the state, such as schools, hospitals and roads,” he said.
The news frustrated Port Stephens Greens secretary Nigel Waters.
“It seems to be an ideological obsession of this government, selling things off,” he said.
“As a general principle, The Greens are suspicious of selling-off public land unless it’s clearly in the public’s interest.
“In the case of Mambo Wetlands, it clearly wasn’t.”
The six hectare lot sold to Maitland aged care developer Paul Unicomb for $250,000 in June 2016.
It raised concerns among conservationists who feared it would threaten fauna at the site, including koalas.
Both Labor and The Greens have called on the state government to buy it back, after Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald said the sale was a mistake.
Given the findings of this week’s parliamentary inquiry, Mr Waters was more concerned than ever.
“The other one we’re worried about is [Crown lands] Tomaree Lodge,” he said.
“I think the community would rightly be concerned given this government’s selling off everything.”
