[Greens-Media] (Hale MLC) Government destroys Bob Carr’s legacy and cuts public access to Harbour foreshore

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release
 
>From Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning
 
19 May 2010    - For immediate use        
            
 Government destroys Bob Carr’s legacy and cuts public access to
Harbour foreshore
 
Greens MP Sylvia Hale has called on Deputy Premier and Minister for
Health Carmel Tebbutt to intervene immediately to maintain public access
to the foreshore walk at Rivendell near Concord Hospital.

“Members of the Walking Volunteers, who over the past five years have
been assisting local and State governments to map walking trails around
the foreshores of Sydney Harbour and the coastline, have learnt that the
NSW Health plans to deny the public access to the walk,” said Ms Hale,
Greens spokesperson for Planning.

“Putting aside the deep sense of anger, disappointment and betrayal
felt by Walking Volunteers at their work being undermined, it is
deplorable that, 25 years after then Environment Minister Bob Carr
opened the walking trail, access to the foreshore, without public
warning or consultation, is suddenly being denied.

"On 20 April 1985 Bob Carr unveiled a plaque marking the establishment
of the Concord Foreshore Trail that reads, “This trail has been made
possible by access agreements between Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent
Hospital, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Thomas Walker
Convalescent Hospital, and Concord Municipal Council”?

“Increasing access to the foreshore of Sydney Harbour is a policy
that, up until now, has had the support of successive State
governments.

“The benefits to Sydney of walking trails are incalculable: they
encourage exercise, attract tourists, and promote awareness our built
and natural heritage.

“Given the recent history of this government in selling off valuable
public open space, most recently at Graythwaite in North Sydney, one
must ask why the Government is now determined to deny access to the
foreshore.

“The Department of Health claims that it is concerned about the
interaction of walkers and psychiatric patients at Concord Hospital. If
so, the Department is ignoring best mental health practice, which
encourages, whenever possible, integration of patients in the community
– not only for the benefit of patients but also to break down the
stigmas associated with mental illness.

“We should be well past the days of locking up mental health patients
behind closed doors. No one denies that some patients may need to be
confined, but this can be managed without denying the public right to
use significant elements of the trail. 

“Of course, it could be that the Government’s real objective is to
sell off the land and preventing public access to the foreshores of the
former Thomas Walker Hospital and the foreshores of the present Concord
Hospital is simply the first stage of this project,” said Ms Hale.
 
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124