Barangaroo contamination issue hits the courts
Australians for Sustainable Development (AfSD) launched legal action against Lend Lease and the Minister for Planning this week over contamination issues at Barangaroo.
The alliance launched action in the Land and Environment Court questioning whether Lend Lease’s remediation plans for the Minister were detailed enough to ensure the site would be cleaned up.
The group includes members of the City of Sydney Council, Leichhardt Council, Friends of Barangaroo, Barangaroo Action Group, The National Trust of Australia (NSW) and the Greens.
Deputy Lord Mayor and AfSD vice-President, Marcelle Hoff, said she hoped the court case would result in a guarantee contamination will be appropriately dealt with.
“[I hope] that we have a transparent disclosure on the contamination that exists at the site and a promise from Lend Lease that they will de-contaminate to internationally acceptable standards,” she said.
“We cannot afford to have development occurring on a site that hasn’t been cleaned up.”
Principal solicitor at the Environmental Defenders Office, Kirsty Ruddock, said risks to human health and the marine environmental could arise if the issue is not dealt with.
“Investigations by the Environmental Protection Authority have raised serious concerns that the toxic materials from an old gas works at the Barangaroo site could present a significant risk to human health and the marine environment of Sydney Harbour if not cleaned up properly,” she said.
Activist, Jack Mundey, said the Barangaroo development has exposed Lend Lease to be greedy and pushy.
“The contamination issue shows how keen Lend lease is to move it on so they can get a decision before the state election in March,” he said.
“The thing that has attracted people to the fight to keep Barangaroo decent is that I think it is going to be one of the biggest environmental issues of our time.”
But Lend Lease maintains they are happy to clarify their position in the courts.
David Hutton, Group Head of Development at Lend Lease, said he believed Lend Lease had acted appropriately and in accordance with proper practices and processes.
“Lend Lease accepts the right of others to seek to review planning decisions in the Land and Environment Court,” he said.
“We believe we have followed all proper due process and that the Minister’s planning approvals were correctly made.”
Mr Hutton said Lend Lease has been a leading proponent of sustainable development in Australia and abroad for over a decade.
He said the transformation of Barangaroo from a disused port into a viable and sustainable extension to Sydney’s CBD provides the opportunity to clean up historic contamination at the site.
“The reinvigoration of Barangaroo South is intended to be amongst the most sustainable urban renewals anywhere in the world,” he said.
Court action coincides with AfSD launching a new campagin- www.handsoffourharbour.com.au – to channel community concerns about Barangaroo and other planning decisions.
Court proceedings were continuing at the time of publication.
by Sophie Cousins
