Pyrmont rally attracts large turnout

A strong sense of community spirit was evident in Pyrmont on Saturday, with hundreds of residents rallying in Union Square against a proposal to demolish four historic terraces as part of plans to build a station for the proposed Metro line.

The speakers list made for a curious amalgam, with State Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell and Liberal Sydney City Councillor Shayne Mallard lining up alongside the likes of Greens Councillor Chris Harris, Lord Mayor Clover Moore and legendary green ban activist Jack Mundey, as well as letters of support from radio broadcaster Alan Jones, the National Trust and the CFMEU. Members of the State Government, including Premier Nathan Rees, were invited but failed to show.

“I think the most important single thing is that it shows, once again, people can be decisive,” Mundey said. “It’s brought together Greens, Libs, independents – and lots of Labor supporters. Even though there weren’t any Labor representatives here…it should be a warning to them.

“Heritage is being neglected, and public opinion is also being neglected – this incredibly short-sighted decision shows the arrogance of government, where they absolutely refuse to listen to the people.”

Kilner Mason, who helped organise the rally, said the level of support was exceptional. “In three weeks, we’ve had a one-person campaign grow into 5000 signatures. It’s not about the Metro, or trying to stop it. We’re just asking to move the Metro – to ‘think outside the Square’.”

Local resident, 85-year-old Doreen Aitchison, who has lived in the area her entire life, believed the government should find somewhere else to locate the proposed station. “The whole place has come to live – it’s always been a very close-knit, law-abiding community. I think myself it would do the Government good to study Pyrmont as it was at the turn of the century, and how it’s come on.”

Barry O’Farrell said the decision to demolish the terraces was “stupidity at its worst”.

“This station should be at Star City, not in the middle of a heritage site,” he said. “This goes to the heart of failure in NSW – projects which are fashioned not by the needs of communities, but by the needs of the next election.”

Proprietor of Bartino cafe, Tino Vieira, whose business occupies one of the terraces earmarked for demolition, said the consultation process had been extremely poor. “Hardly anyone knew about it,” he said. “I first found out about it from a neighbour, who found it on the internet by accident!”

All of the buildings house small businesses. Between 75 and 100 jobs are estimated to be lost from the immediate area if the plans for the station are approved.

Mason was excited by the turnout. “What we saw today was walking-on-water stuff,” he said. “We had people coming from the Hunter Valley to show support.”