Alliance asks MPs to reject Draft Exposure Bill.
The Draft Exposure Bill on the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust was released on Friday 1 October and is on exhibition until October 29, 2021.
The Legislation will apply to the Greater Sydney area, taking in the Blue Mountains and Central Coast LGA. The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces will oversee the agency and will also be responsible for appointing the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust CEO and its seven board members.
To read the Bill and the White Paper submissions report click here
After careful consideration of the Bill, the Alliance for Public Parklands is unable to support it in its current form. Instead, APP is recommending an Upper House Inquiry into the Greater Sydney Parklands Agency, in an attempt to find a way forward and add to our public parklands without compromising our existing ones.
Members of APP raised numerous concerns about the Bill including:
Provides NO protections for Sydney’s 5 iconic parks and sets an alarming model for future public parklands across the State.
Gives the GSP board sweeping, unprecedented powers without the need for proper accountability or oversight
Permits 25 year commercial leases without Ministerial consent/up to 50 years with Ministerial consent.
Gives GSPT power to compulsorily acquire public and private land and to form or participate in the formation of private subsidiary corporations and joint ventures.
Community sidelined
Concentrates too much power in the Minister of the Day
Removes consent authority of local councils
Our public parks should be open for public access to both heritage buildings and precious green open space. They should NOT be for sale or privatisation including hotels, business hubs and transport infrastructure such as highways and car parks.
We are asking MPs voting on this Bill to reject it.
