Residents rally to save Pyrmont

Legendary green ban activist Jack Mundey will be speaking out in support of a coalition of community groups at rally in Pyrmont’s Union Square in on July 4 to defend the historical precinct from destruction.
Mr Mundey will join a cast of other prominent identities uniting against the NSW Government’s plans to demolish four 19th century heritage terraces along Union Street, Pyrmont, to make way for the proposed CBD Metro line.
“I think it’s wrong that those places should be affected, so I support the position that Clover Moore’s taking on it. I support the residents in their action,” said Mr Mundey.
Other spruikers at the rally will include Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker, Sydney City Greens Councillor Chris Harris, and a spokesperson from the National Trust, which has committed its support to the residents.
With varying opinions on the viability of the CBD Metro scheme itself, pitched to run from Central to Rozelle starting 2015, all speakers will push the Government to find an alternative site for the Pyrmont station.

Mayor Jamie Parker said the situation in Pyrmont was mirrored with the proposal of the station in Rozelle.

“I’ll…be talking about the impact that the Metro is having at the other end in Rozelle, where businesses are being compulsorily acquired, properties and being demolished.
“There will be a significant impact on heritage and traffic,” he said.
More than 100 protestors made their presence known at a Sydney Metro community consultation session at Darling Harbour’s National Maritime Museum on Saturday.

100 red and white t-shirts reading ‘save Union Square’ were handed out. “I think we definitely got our message across…” said Pyrmont Community Group organiser Jean Stuart.

The Pyrmont Community Group has also applied to the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union for a green ban against construction on the Union Street site, and has asked for a representative to speak at the rally.

At an Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday night, Sydney City Council unanimously approved a $1000 grant to assist residents with campaign materials such as banners and posters.

“I have asked the CEO to ensure that we encourage Sydney Metro to work with the local community in an open an transparent manner,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore at the meeting.

“We will continue working with Sydney Metro to achieve excellence in urban design, public domain works and transport integration, and keep the local community informed of our progress.”

Locals have appealed to Sydney Metro to consider a multitude of alternative sites, including a vacant lot straddling Harris and Pyrmont Streets, and the new Star City Casino building. But the authority has said the presence of major electricity cables running beneath the latter would make it unviable, and that resuming the Union Street terraces was the most cost effective option.