Barangaroo action group slams government decision

The group that launched court action against contamination at the Barangaroo site has labeled the Planning Minister, Tony Kelly’s, handling of the situation as “corrupt”.

Mr Kelly removed Barangaroo from contamination laws just a few days before the Land Environment Court was to announce a decision on the matter, last week.

Australians for Sustainable Development (AfSD), claim Mr Kelly exempted Barangaroo from contamination laws related to site remediation because he feared the government would lose the court case.

AfSD spokesperson, Ian Campbell, said the situation is serious.

“We think the Minister knew he was going to be found guilty of not doing his job,” he said.

“It has been a very corrupt process that has disenfranchised the public and now it has overridden the courts.”

The changes mean Barangaroo is exempt from planning laws on contamination and Lend Lease is no longer obliged to adhere to the Contaminated Land Management Act.

AfSD are calling on the next state government to complete an inquiry to the matter.

“The incoming government has to get to the bottom of why this is being done; is it as simple as a corrupt government doing one last favour for its paymasters, or Lend Lease? Or is it more widespread than that?,” Ian Campbell questioned. Council is also demanding an inquiry into Barangaroo after the state election.

City of Sydney councillor John McInerey said he had always believed governments were there to defend the rule of law.

“The government is subverting the rule of law, two days before a decision was to be made by the courts,” he said.

“The City of Sydney needs Barangaroo but it needs it in a proper, managed and correct way,” he said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said she was concerned that Mr Kelly had “lost touch with the local community”.

“This action means that Council and community now do not have the right to find out what action is being taken to remediate contamination at the Barangaroo site,” she said.

Principal solicitor at the Environmental Defenders Office, representing AfSD, Kirsty Ruddock, said the government decision left the outcome of the court case unknown.

“The judge has to determine what he will do with the rest of the case,” she said.

“If we win on some other grounds, it may still be that parts of the decision (by the government) are invalid.”

Lend Lease will be free to begin work on the car park at the southern end and on the headland park at the northern end of Barangaroo.

It is understood work will commence this week.

by Sophie Cousins