Greens rally around Tamarama Park
A rally to save Tamarama Park on January 30 attracted scores of concerned locals to the top of Tamarama Gully on Birrell Street.
The rally, organised by the Waverley Council Greens, aimed to send a clear message to the council – buy the properties on the strip of land at the top of Tamarama Gully so that restoration of the area can commence.
There has been concern over a development application lodged with the Land and Environment Court (LEC) over one of two properties built by Waverley’s first mayor, David Fletcher on that land – 362 and 364 Birrell Street. The application for road access to 362 was previously refused as it was deemed ‘unsafe’ and the applicant has now submitted another DA currently before the LEC.
Approval of the development would be “madness” according to Greens MLC and local resident Lee Rhiannon, one of the speakers at the rally.
“The time is ripe for this gully, with its rich and complex heritage, to be restored and returned to public hands,” Ms Rhiannon said. “The government, working with Waverley Council, has a unique opportunity to reverse the sins of the past which have been imposed on this once magical gully.”
The speakers, which also included Coogee MP Paul Pearce and green bans veteran Jack Mundey, urged locals to write to Waverley Mayor Sally Betts and Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull to seek funding to buy the properties.
Mayor Betts said she was aware of the Greens’ concerns.
“I know there is a push by several councillors to purchase 362 and 364 – to do so we are talking millions of dollars,” she said. “I’m not quite sure where that money would come from.”
But the mayor applauded the initiative, saying she would be “extremely grateful” for any funding resulting from the Greens’ work.
Tamarama Gully was once a picturesque waterfall set with boulders and with a small bridge, built by David Fletcher, spanning the top of the watercourse. Now the gully is choked with weeds and debris including litter and dumped shopping trolleys. Above the land, modern apartments dominate the skyline.
Waverley Greens councillor Prue Cancian called for protection and expansion of the gully so the public could have more space and access to enjoy.
“The Waverley area is already short on public open space but development in the gully threatens to rob more of this from local residents,” she said.
Green bans leader Jack Mundey urged those present to attend the next Waverley Council meeting on February 16 to show their support for the gully.
“It’s people’s actions that bring about change,” he said. “People’s power is the most important power of all.”
– By Liam Kinkead
