Green ban puts Metro on red alert

The battle to save Union Square has taken another turn, with unions announcing a green ban on the site, putting them in direct conflict with the NSW state Labor government over the issue.

On Friday, the NSW President of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU), Peter McClelland, announced the ban in a visit to the Square. He said he expected the interim status of the ban to be turned into a permanent work ban, following endorsement by union members at a meeting on July 31.

“Our office has been inundated with messages of support,” Mr McClelland said. “Given that you’ve got a building such as the [Star City] Casino [being built across the road] which doesn’t in any way reflect the ambience of these charming old buildings, I’ve been quite surprised at the level of support for the preservation of the four buildings concerned.”

He added that the CFMEU regarded Union Square, “as an important communications hub”. “The removal of these buildings would impact detrimentally on the entire square,” he said.

The campaign to ‘Save Union Square’ has attracted support from all over the political spectrum, with Liberal politicians coming together with Greens, independents, rank-and-file ALP members and the union movement in an effort to persuade the Government to reconsider its plans. The campaign has also attracted the support of the likes of legendary activist Jack Mundey, who was reported as playing an important role in gaining the CFMEU’s backing.

A variety of alternate sites have been proposed for the Metro station, including the vacant site, presently owned by developer Lend Lease, opposite the new Nokia building on Harris Street.  Another proposal, put forward by the Pyrmont community, envisages building the station underneath the Casino currently under construction opposite Union Square.  The spokesperson said both sites, “should be considered through a genuine cost-benefit analysis”.

Both alternative sites are opposed by Sydney Metro.

Co-ordinator of the campaign to save Union Square, Mark Metcalf, said the word from Transport Minister David Campbell’s office was that “they’re listening”, but that there was no indication of any decision yet.

The Minister’s office failed to respond to a request for an update on the site’s status by the time City News went to press.

The CFMEU has previously employed green bans to preserve historical elements of Pyrmont, notably in 2003 during a successful campaign to prevent high-rise apartment blocks being built on the old Sydney Water Police site at Elizabeth McArthur Bay.