SCG left wanting Moore

By Lawrence Bull

State Premier Kristina Keneally confirmed Moore Park would remain public parklands less than a day after a large public rally.

The Premier met with representatives of the Moore Park Trust and the SCG Trust to determine who would manage the park.

The previous evening, about 600 people filled Paddington Town Hall to protest the proposed transfer of the park to the SCG Trust.

Speakers included Malcolm Turnbull, Clover Moore and former NSW Premier Neville Wran.

Chair of the Moore Park Trust John Walker said he was delighted by the outcome.

SCG Chairman Rodney Cavalier said the battle wasn’t over.

“We have been trying to achieve that for 11 years and I don’t think that will cease,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The SCG Trust has stated it would leave Moore Park in it’s current condition, but with a drastic reduction in the number of festivals, concerts and “enclosing the park with cyclone wire for weeks on end”.

“For the Centennial Park Trust, Moore Park is out of sight, a revenue-earner for the purposes of the lands inside the iron fence which defines what Centennial Park is,” Cavalier said.

“Those who extol Moore Park as some sort of urban wonder, obviously have not been there. One area is a gravel pit. It is a gravel pit not because of motorists but because Centennial Park has not spent money restoring the land. The SCG will spend the money.”

Speaking at the rally, Mr Walker retorted that the park only hosts one festival a year (Parklife), and the revenue received from events exceeded that from the State Government.

The Premier has given both trusts 30 days to devise solutions to traffic, transport and parking problems at Moore Park East.

Mr Walker is optimistic.

“We’re confident that improvements can be achieved without diminishing public use of the lands, if both parties cooperate fully.”

Lord Mayor and State Member for Sydney Clover Moore said implementing light rail would solve the problem.

“Light rail on an Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade route to the sporting stadia and the University of NSW would move thousands of people and dramatically reduce congestion, and permanently remove car parking from Moore Park,” she said.

She says the rally showed a high level of community concern about loss of parkland.

“I’ve submitted more than a thousand signatures on petitions to Parliament this week, and more are coming into my office every day,” she said.

Ms Moore said the site had been granted to the city for public use by Governor Macquarie 200 years ago and it was down to one third of its original size.

The Premier said the Park Trust could continue to collect parking revenue on Moore Park east.