Woollahra residents hopeful
Image: The Paddington Society fear that a council amalgamation will reduce heritage conservation in the area. Credit: Wikimedia commons
BY ALEX EUGENE
The fight to save Woollahra Council from mass amalgamation continues, but this time with renewed confidence for residents after the High Court of Australia granted a special leave application in Canberra last week.
Protestors are hopeful for a positive outcome, buoyed by the success story of Ku-ring-gai Council, when earlier this year three Court of Appeal Judges ruled that they would not be amalgamated with Hornsby.
Residents and community groups have been rallying against the changes, fearing that the local focus will be lost with the new council covering such a vast geographical area.
“The typical voice of the community won’t be able to be heard,” said Charlotte Feldman, President of the Darling Point Society.
“We are a cohesive and effective community organisation and we work with other local organisations in the municipality, such as the Double Bay Residents Association, the Potts Point Heritage Society, the Rose Bay Residents Group, the Paddington Society to name only a few, on common issues.
“The cooperation within the community is strong. We have no need for an amorphous amalgamation where our voice will not be heard,” she said.
Woollahra Councillor Anthony Morano believes the Baird Government wanted mass amalgamation simply to centralise power.
Councillor Katherine O’Regan says that regardless of the High Court outcome, she plans to stand up for the community and make sure they receive “the quality of services and amenities they deserve.”
The Paddington Society prides itself on preserving the natural beauty and heritage of the area. In a submission made against the forced amalgamation, President Will Mrongovius said “Paddington is one of the most significant intact 19th Century Victorian suburbs in the world. It is protected as a Conservation Area and is subject to Heritage Controls by both the City of Sydney and Woollhara Councils.
“The proposed merger of councils will result in simplified development controls and regulations.”
The Society believes that a larger council will not be familiar enough with the Woollhara area and is unlikely to enhance its heritage protection.
Woollhara Mayor, Toni Zeltzer said it was a shame the NSW Government had to be challenged in court to “uphold the principles of democracy.”
“There are no benefits for Woollhara under this forced merger and our community was not given the full story before the Government conducted its public enquiry into amalgamtion,” she said.
Mayor Zelter said the success of Ku-ring-gai Council made it obvious there were concerns about “the legitimacy of the whole process.”
