The Battle of Barangaroo

Battle lines are being drawn in the fight to save Barangaroo from over-development.

City Councillors are continuing to question Clover Moore’s role on the clandestine Barangaroo Delivery Authority board, and the Barangaroo Action Group has been formed to oppose the development.

In Council last Monday, a motion was carried unanimously opposing various aspects of the preferred Lend Lease Barangaroo plan.

The motion included an amendment by Liberal Councillor Shayne Mallard which outlined over-development concerns, the lack of public consultation and transparency in the planning process, and the new design bearing little resemblance to the original award winning design for the precinct.

However the motion was only passed once a clause in Cr Mallard’s amendment was rewritten, removing references to the planning process being conducted “in secrecy”.

Cr Mallard said the Lord Mayor had no choice but to accept his revised amendment.

“She didn’t have the numbers to stop it,” he said.

“She was caught out – that’s what it looks like from an opposition Councillor position.”

The Lord Mayor may well have been caught out by Cr John McInerney, a member of her team, being the first to second Cr Mallard’s amendment.

“When I moved the amendment … John McInerney couldn’t jump up quick enough to second it,” Cr Mallard said.

Cr McInerney told City News he seconded the amendment because he was concerned about the intrusion into the harbour and the expansion of the development from 300,000 square metres to over 500,000.

But he defended the Lord Mayor’s place on the Barangaroo board, saying she could still represent the council effectively.

“I think by supporting this motion she acted in her role as the Lord Mayor very well,” he said.

But opposition Councillors expressed concerns about Clover Moore remaining on the board.

Greens Councillor Chris Harris said it was “unhealthy for Council”.

His Greens Collegue Cr Irene Doutney said the Lord Mayor remaining in her role with the Barangaroo Authority was a conflict of interest.

“Some of her team are definitely concerned that there’s a big conflict of interest there,” she said.

“How can you be on that board and then be in Council and present the concerns of Councillors when you‘re part of the process?

“I think she’s been really co-opted by the government here. They’re wanting the input of the City and getting her to go on the board, but that then compromises her ability to actually represent the interests of Councillors.”

But a spokesman for the Lord Mayor said she’d had “lots of wins.”

The Lord Mayor herself said the plans now on public exhibition responded to many public interest issues that she pursued as a member of the board.

“Senior City staff, consultants and our public space expert Jan Gehl have worked with me to provide suggestions to the Board,” she said.

Joining the chorus of calls for Clover Moore to step down from the Barangaroo board was Chairman of the new Barangaroo Action Group, Dr Ian Campbell.

However unlike the opposition Councillors, Dr Campbell praised the work the Lord Mayor had done so far.

“If she was to do any good she needed to get inside Barangaroo and try and fix things from the inside,” he said.

“She tried pretty hard I think … [but] she’s at a point where she’s done all the good she can do from inside and she’s got to get out of the group and lead a Council fight against it.”

He said it was not the Lord Mayor’s fault that she had been unable to do more.

“It’s just such a structurally corrupt process that she couldn’t … change things from inside,” he said.

“She’s been a champion of citizen’s rights, open transparency … all the things that are going to be problems there, she’s been championing for 10 years.”

Dr Campbell was highly critical however of the State Government’s agreement with a sole developer, Lend Lease, to develop Barangaroo.

“NSW Treasury is desperate for the money and they’re driving a process ruthlessly to get the most amount of money up front they possibly can,” he said.

“Because they want money up front, they’ve sold the farm.”

Mr Campbell said the Barangaroo Action Group was determined to keep fighting.

“The only way things will change is if there’s such a big community outcry it becomes political,” he said.

“Council has picked up the banner … and we’ve talked at some length with the cross-benches in the upper house here and the Liberal guys and I think if there’s enough groundswell they’ll pick up the cause.

“Why were doing all the things were doing is the Government and Lend Lease will get away with it unless someone does something about it.”