East Sydney Reserve

By Ken Robinson

Residents and community leaders are disappointed with the lack of involvement in negotiations for a public reserve in East Sydney.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore recently advised the RTA that Council would consider rezoning portions of property located near the unfiltered Eastern Distributor stack in return for the donation of adjacent plots of land.

“We’ve [the community] had very little input. I’m trying to find out what the situation is,” said East Sydney Neighbourhood Association (ESNA) president Doug Purdie.

“We’re very disappointed to see the land rezoned. We want to try to retain as much green space as possible.”

Greens Councillor Irene Doutney began asking questions following inquiries by City News.

“There has been no public consultation and no plan,” she said.

The Lord Mayor acknowledges that RTA officials approached the council about swapping and rezoning portions of land near Bourke Street and O’Briens Lane.

In a letter to the RTA dated May 20, 2010, Cr Moore said the City will “only consider any proposal to rezone 237-241 Bourke Street if there is a commitment from the RTA to dedicate 231 Bourke Street as a public reserve.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said no response had been received yet from the RTA.

An RTA spokesperson said the authority “is proceeding to dispose of the land through a competitive and transparent process in accordance with State Government Guidelines.”

“The RTA does not have any plans to build on this land,” the spokesperson said.

But although the RTA may not have plans to build, it has been seeking to rezone the parcels as residential which would make them more attractive to developers.

Community leaders are outraged that the RTA is pushing for additional residential zoning while still refusing to filter emissions from the Eastern Distributor stack.

“If you’re not going to filter the stacks, at least give us some green space,” Mr Purdie said.

Resident Neil Burling said locals have been maintaining the park for 20 years.

“We assumed it would be open space and would likely be purchased,” he said.

Council is in the process of creating a new City Plan for the entire local government area that will include a single Local Environment Plan and one Development Control Plan, with recommendations the existing zoning be carried over into the new draft plan.

Resident’s point to this plan as evidence of their exclusion from the decision making process.

“Once it gets to a draft plan, it’s nearly complete,” Mr Burling said.