[Greens-Media] (Hale MLC)

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release
 
>From Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning

1 September  2010   - For immediate use
 
Greens force small crack in wall of secrecy enveloping Barangaroo
 
The Upper House of the NSW Parliament today supported Greens MP Sylvia Hale's motion requiring the Government to produce documents relating to contamination at Barangaroo and how the Government and Lend Lease propose to deal with it.
 
"Barangaroo was the site of a gasworks between 1842 and 1921. As a result, the site is heavily polluted with heavy metals and complex cyanides," said Ms Hale, Greens spokesperson for Planning.
 
"Even now highly carcinogenic water continues to leach into buildings in the area. Seepage into the basement of the Bond Building, constructed by Lend Lease in 2003 opposite Barangaroo, has to be pumped out regularly for treatment before it can be safely disposed of.
 
"The proposal by Lend Lease to carry out very deep excavation on Barangaroo for a car park runs the very real risk of permitting the contamination to spread. Just what will happen when the concrete apron covering the Barangaroo site is disturbed? The removal of the existing sea wall to create coves and canals heightens the risk that the pollution will leach into Darling Harbour with disastrous impacts on  everyone who uses the Harbour as well as its aquatic ecosystems.
 
 "Submissions on the Lend Lease proposal close on 10 September. The release of the documents, especially the 'Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment', the reports on contamination at Barangaroo prepared by Sinclair, Knight Merz and on actual and proposed remedial action plans, are essential if the public is to be fully informed as to the likely impact of the proposed car park excavation.
 
"The release of these documents is the first real crack in the wall of secrecy surrounding so much of Barangaroo. 
 
"Just last week the Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA) made public its agreement with Lend Lease to develop the site. But in no fewer than 85 clauses and some 300 sub-clauses vital financial information was withheld that would enable the public to know just what is going on.
 
"The BDA also refused to reveal what obligations, if any, have been placed on Lend Lease if it does not meet waste removal or other environmental targets at Barangaroo.
 
"Surely the latest scandal about cosy and potentially corrupt deals at The Rocks should make it amply clear just how dangerous secrecy is and how it promotes improper agreements.
 
"The success of today's motion will at least shed a little light on the cosy but secret arrangements the Government has entered into with Lend Lease," said Ms Hale.
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124