The recent axing of the contentious “Part 3A” Planning Laws by the O’Farrell State Government has led to fresh calls for unpopular developments lodged under these laws, such as the proposed expansion of Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre, to be scrapped.
The Marrickville residents’ action group, MetroWatch, which opposes the Metro expansion, welcomed the news that the laws were being axed. Under the controversial 3A laws, developers were able to override local Councils and apply directly to the State Government for planning approval, bypassing local planning laws and any Council opposition.
However, Anna Keohan, MetroWatch spokesperson, urged the Planning Minister to go further, and reject the redevelopment proposed by AMP Capital. “It’s abundantly clear that the community strongly opposes the Metro expansion plans, as shown by the number of objections lodged with the Department of Planning.” The full 734 public submissions were recently published online, with 98% opposed to the plans.
“One of the key concerns emerging from the submissions is that AMP hasn’t been listening to the community. After being asked to revise their initial plans, taking on board the community’s wishes, the developer came back with a proposal that more than doubles the height of the current Metro, and increases floor space by 75% ,” Keohan told the City Hub.
The new centre is expected to draw an estimated 4 million shoppers a year, increasing local traffic by 50%-60%. “If you lived near the centre, you would know that traffic is already at peak capacity. The small streets cannot possibly cope with this,” said Keohan. The expansion also casts doubt on the future of dozens of grown trees adjacent to the centre.
According to Joe Khouri from the Marrickville Chamber of Commerce, there is enough retail floor space in the bustling shopping districts of Newtown and Marrickville to cater for the needs of local people. “When the Metro was first built, the Marrickville Road shopping strip was hit hard. In recent times, we have seen a new vibrancy, but the Metro expansion threatens to destroy that. It’ll end up being something like a ghost town.”
Vanessa Walker, Project Manager for AMP, points to their survey of 217 people as evidence of community support, with 57% in favour of the plan. However, Anna Keohan from MetroWatch counters that their survey was held long before any concrete plans were released, and referred to “refurbishment,” not expansion. Meanwhile some 5,000 people have signed a petition against it.
BY ANNETTE MAGUIRE
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