An alternative model stands out to save the Greater Sydney Parklands from disaster.
MEDIA RELEASE - 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Alliance for Public Parklands (APP) parliamentary public forum where we first raised the community alarm around the intentions of the Greater Sydney Parklands Agency to change the custodianship of Centennial & Moore Park, Callan Park, Parramatta Park, Western Sydney Parklands and Fern hill Estate. Since then, APP has worked tirelessly with its community partners stretching from Marouba to Mulgoa, to put a spotlight on the implications of the proposed legislation which contains alarming provisions to privatise our public parklands.
The NSW Upper House Inquiry hearing, held in January this year, clearly demonstrated that community groups, environmental organisations and local governments vigorously object to the centralisation of our public parklands under a corporation model that would revolve around a minister's whim. It was highlighted from experts like Emeritus Professor James Weirick during his testimony at the Inquiry that there are better models that will facilitate a better outcome for the future of our parklands across greater Sydney– one that puts community over commercialisation.
The APP has always pushed for a federation model that will protect our parklands for generations to come – and believes that Professor Weirick's model best reflects this. You can read Professor Weirick's submission here ->
The Greater Sydney Parklands Bill is now in the Upper House of the NSW Parliament, and the Parliamentary Inquiry will report on the Bill on Monday 21 February 2022. The Alliance calls on all members of NSW Parliament to reject the Greater Sydney Parklands Bill which fails to protect 6,000 hectares of our public parklands, and instead work together for a model that will better protect our parklands for future generations.
"If it goes ahead, the Bill will commercialise and degrade our parklands –particularly in Western Sydney. It would deprive the public of any real voice in the management of our parks and does nothing to create a Sydney-wide network of iconic parks", said Hall Greenland, APP spokesperson.
"Western Sydney is under enormous pressure to deliver some of the highest housing targets in the state, making sure the existing parklands are off-limits to development of any type is essential," said Suzette Meade spokesperson for APP.
Suzette Meade spokesperson for APP added, "The future of our public parklands is too precious a community asset to let slip between our fingers - now is the time for collaboration, above politics to develop a once in a lifetime legacy for our parklands. A parks model that is not driven by Treasury, but by the people – above all else."
Media inquiries
Email: alliance4parks@gmail.com
Phone: Katey 0414 520 383 or Maria 0408 386 997
