Inner West Harbour Consultation “a Sham”

Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and Planning Spokesperson said:

“This consultation process is a sham. The government promised three years ago to consult with the community before proceeding with development in the inner west harbour, yet since then it has approved a marine refueling facility and a massive dry boat storage facility and has proposed a new cruise ship terminal, all without any genuine community consultation.”

Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker said:

“People have lost faith in the state government’s willingness to listen to the community.  That is why Leichhardt Council has established its own community consultation process. We just don’t trust the state government to pay any attention to what the community has to say.  We want a masterplan for the inner west harbour based on proper planning principles, not ad hoc decisions like the announcement today of approval for a new refueling facility at White Bay. Our fear is that the government will overcrowd the inner west bays with commercial boat facilities and exclusive water front residential developments.”

City of Sydney Councillor Chris Harris said:

“The government stopped listening to the community years ago and the community has now stopped listening to this government. Residents are looking for a genuine community based consultation process followed by a proper masterplan for the inner west harbour. Based on its record this government is incapable of delivering either.”

  Contact: Chris Holley on 02 9230 3030 or 0437 779 546, Jamie Parker: 0418 428 089