[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Foreshore Authority Will Be A Disaster For Callan Park

[Christopher Holley]

Foreshore Authority Will Be A Disaster For Callan Park

Giving the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) control of the
Callan Park Masterplan will be a disaster for the Park, according to NSW
Greens MP and planning spokesperson, Sylvia Hale.

Speaking at a large public meeting at Balmain Town Hall last night Ms
Hale accused the Authority of having a record of putting development
ahead of community interest and pointed to the controversial development
deal at Luna Park and the Authority’s push to redevelop the Sydney
Water Police site at Pyrmont as examples of the Authority putting deals
with developers ahead of the needs of local communities.

“SHFA is a self-funded body. It looks to generate profits from the
development of public foreshore land and it has a record of putting
developers before community. Putting SHFA in charge of the Callan Park
Masterplan will be disastrous,” said Ms Hale.

“It puts all power back with the Minister for Planning and undermines
the role of Leichhardt Council and the voice of the local community.”

“The Government’s memorandum of understanding with the University
of Sydney is the latest in the growing list of post-election betrayals
of the inner-west community by the Labor government. Since the election
they have approved the overdevelopment of Rozelle Bay, announced the
fast tracking of the M4 east extension and now, despite all the
hand-over-heart promises they made during the election campaign, have
signed this deal with the University without any community involvement
or consultation.”

“The memorandum commits the government to pursuing a certain outcome
before the community was even made aware that this deal was being
negotiated.”

“When parliament resumes I will seek to re-introduce a Callan Park
Trust Bill which will establish an independent trust with community
representation to take control of Callan Park,” concluded Ms Hale.

Contact: Chris Holley (02) 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546