| |
WHO ARE WE?
- Protectors
of Public Lands is a Coalition of community action groups, environmental
organisations and local councils, whose Charter is to protect and preserve
significant public lands in public ownership for present and future
generations.
- The Coalition
is non party political and makes decisions by consensus and by unanimous
resolutions.
- PPL was
formed in September 2001 to stop the ever-increasing sale by Governments
of significant public lands, lands that belong to the people.
- For the
first six months PPL was administered with the assistance of one of
its member groups Leichhardt Council. For the last year administration
has operated from another of its members the National Trust.
- The PPL
website is presently accessed through the National Trust website www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/ppl.html
Access
the following documents by clicking on their links
Committee
and Member Groups (PPL)
The
Charter (PPL)
Membership
and Procedures (PPL)
The
Pledge (PPL)
Maire Sheehan
Convenor at the launch of PPL Principles
August, 2002
WHAT
ARE OUR AIMS?
- PPL seeks
the adoption by all Governments of Principles and Policies, to be embodied
in Legislation, that:
Stop
the sale of significant public lands to private developers.
Properly and independently assess the significance of public lands.
Require assessments to be placed upon State and Commonwealth Registers.
Preserve, protect and manage significant public land sites in public
ownership.
Establish
proper and genuine processes for consulting with the community.
Recognise
and respect the rights of indigenous communities to their own lands.
- Public land is
of significance where it is of environmental, heritage, natural, cultural,
social, historic, scientific, aesthetic, ecological or indigenous value,
or is capable at present or in the future of having a value or use the
benefit of which to the public outweighs any public benefit from sale
or alienation by lease.
- Two recent
examples of Legislation that do properly protect specific significant
land sites in public ownership are:
Sydney
Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (Commonwealth)
Callan
Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (N.S.W.)
Both
Acts were passed as a direct result of community action taken by member
groups of PPL, including Defenders of Sydney Harbour Foreshores and
the Friends of Callan Park.
- What
is really required is a single Act of Parliament, at both State and
Commonwealth level, that properly protects all significant public sites
in public ownership and control.
Access
the following documents by clicking on their links
Assessment
of Significance (PPL)
General
Principles to be applied by all Governments (PPL)
Public
Lands Protection Bill (PPL) (click
for printable version)
Sydney
Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (Cwth)
http://scaleplus.law.gov.au
Callan
Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (N.S.W.)
www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
Friends
of Callan Park marching to the PPL Rally
August, 2002
WHAT
HAVE WE BEEN DOING?
- Held
regular meetings of members to develop common principles, policies and
approaches to issues.
- Prepared
documentation embodying those Principles and Policies.
- Campaigned
with member groups to save endangered sites.
- Lobbied
politicians and others to achieve our aims.
- Assisted
the successful battles by member groups to protect Callan Park and the
Hunters Hill High School site in public ownership, including the drafting
of legislation.
- Assisted
the successful campaign to bring back Ballast Point (Sydney Harbour)
into public ownership.
- Developed
a State Election Strategy 2003.
A large
crowd attended the PPL Rally at Callan Park
WHAT
SITES NEED PROTECTION NOW?
- The failure
of both State and Commonwealth Governments to adopt a principled approach
to important public lands has led to the inappropriate sale or attempted
sale of many sites highly valued by communities. Community outrage and
the formation of community action groups has followed.
- Many
significant public land sites that are threatened are or were held by
the Departments of Health and Education (State), and the Department
of Defence (Cwth). There are others.
- Some
private lands also have significant public values. These values need
protection. In some cases, Governments should acquire such sites.
- Significant
public land sites that are now threatened by Government include Quarantine
Station and North Head; the ADI site at St Marys (State law); the Prince
Henry, Gladesville, Lidcombe and Western Suburbs Hospital sites; James
Fletcher and Royal Newcastle Hospitals; the Rockdale Wetlands Corridor;
the Round Corner and Redfern Public Schools; Graythwaite; Strickland
House; Maroota Forest; Brush Farm; the Honeysuckle and Fort Scratchley
sites in Newcastle; and Currawong and Sandon Point (private lands of
public significance).
- Also
at risk are a number of Commonwealth sites including the ADI site (above),
Malabar Headland, Georges River Defence land, the Dubbo Air Force base
site and Waverton Defence land.
- Sites
that still need to be guarded closely are Callan Park, Hunters Hill
High School, Ballast Point and the former Defence sites around Sydney
Harbour.
Access
the following documents by clicking on their links
Significant
Public Land sites
(including Private Land sites of public significance)
March 2003 (PPL).
Committee
and Member Groups (PPL)
Private
Lands of Public Significance. - criteria (PPL)
Quarantine
Station at North Head, one of the threatened sites
WHAT
ARE WE DOING FOR THE STATE ELECTION MARCH 2003?
- Protectors
of Public Lands has adopted a 'PPL State Election Strategy 2003'.
- This
Strategy seeks to persuade the Leaders of Political Parties and all
Candidates to commit to a principled approach to public lands, and to
pass Legislation that protects all significant public lands in public
ownership.
- Political
Leaders and Candidates will be asked to sign the 'PPL State Election
Pledge 2003' and return the Pledge to the PPL Secretariat. (address
/ email / fax below)
- The results
of the Pledge, and the lobbying by PPL, will be made known to the community
at large.
Access
the following documents by clicking on their links
Protectors
of Public Lands 'PPL State Election
Strategy 2003' (PPL)
PPL State Election Pledge 2003
(Printable Version - Click
here)
Letter
to all Candidates 18th February, 2003
Tom Uren
addressing the people on public lands
WHAT
WE ALL CAN DO.
- Join
one of the member groups of PPL and help protect public lands.
- Lobby
politicians and candidates to commit to the aims of PPL, and to sign
and return the State Election Pledge.
- Publicise
the issue, be it on radio, in the press or otherwise.
Every major
environmental organisation in the State, a number of progressive local
councils, and a large number of community action groups belong to and
support PPL. Protectors of Public Lands' principles and documentation
have been unanimously adopted by its membership.
The community
view is strong and broadbased and the message is clear to Government.
Stop selling off our significant public lands. These lands belong to the
people. Properly protect, preserve and manage them. Pass Legislation to
ensure this happens.
Jack Mundey
launching the Public Lands State Election Pledge
at Observatory Hill, The Rocks on Sunday 9th March, 2003
THE STATE
ELECTION 2003
- The Public Lands
State Election Pledge 2003 was sent to the Leaders of all Political
Parties and to all Candidates prior to 24th February, 2003.
- The Leaders of
the Greens, Democrats and Save Our Suburbs have signed the Pledge on
behalf of their Parties. Their public land policies embody the principles
of PPL. Many of their Candidates have also signed.
- The Liberal/National
Party on 3rd March, 2003 released a Public Lands Policy. The principles
worked out by the community and PPL are contained within that Policy.
The Leaders of the Coalition have been asked to sign the Pledge. They
have not done so. The Coalition by way of letter dated 7th March, 2003
has stated that their Policy represents the position of every one of
their Candidates in NSW.
- The Labor Party
is the only Party that has failed to develop a Public Lands Policy.
It remains without any principles to guide its action as to when and
in what circumstances it may or may not sell significant public lands.
It has not given a commitment to keep these lands in public ownership.
PPL and the community call upon the Labor Party to sign the Pledge and
commit itself, as have the other Parties, to a principled and orderly
approach to the planning for these significant sites.
- The Pledge was
officially launched by Jack Mundey, environmentalist and instigator
of the original Green Bans, on Observatory Hill in the Rocks on Sunday
9th March, 2003. Jack Mundey said "Both Labor and the Coalition
have been the recipient of large amounts of money from developers who
naturally expect a return. This Pledge is the acid test of the parties'
genuine willingness to preserve public lands."
- PPL and its member
groups recognise and respect the rights of indigenous communities to
their own lands. The PPL Charter does not apply to lands that indigenous
communities have a rightful claim to in law. The Charter applies to
significant public lands that Governments, not committed to Principles
and Policies, have treated as their own to sell off to private developers.
- Political Leaders
and Candidates will need to commit to the signing of the Pledge prior
to Tuesday 18th March, 2003. On that day PPL will forward to its many
member groups and organisations the results of the Pledge. In turn,
these groups will email the results to their many members and supporters.
The wider community will also be informed of the results of the Pledge
prior to the Election on the 22nd March, 2003.
Phil Jenkyn,
PPL spokesperson, addressing the ADI Rally
at St Marys on Sunday 16th March, 2003
REPORT
TO MEMBER GROUPS ON RESULTS OF STATE ELECTION PLEDGE (18TH MARCH, 2003)
-
On or about 24 February 2003 all Candidates to the State Election and
Leaders of Political Parties were sent personal letters and emails enclosing
the PPL Public Lands State Election Pledge. On 13 March 2003 a reminder
email was sent to those Candidates who had not at that stage returned
the Pledge requesting they do so on or before Monday 17 March.
- The
State Election Pledge contains the following commitments: an independent
expert assessment of the significance of all public lands; significant
public lands to remain in public ownership and control, properly conserved,
protected and managed; and Legislation passed to embody these Principles
so as to protect all significant public land sites.
-
As at Tuesday 18 March 2003, the leaders of three Political Parties,
the Democrats (Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MLC), the Greens (Ian Cohen
MLC), and Save Our Suburbs (Tony Recsei) have signed the PPL Public
Lands State Election Pledge on behalf of their Parties. Many of their
Candidates have also signed. (103 Candidates in total from these Parties).
- A
number of Independents (including David Barr and Clover Moore) (5 Independent
Candidates), and members of smaller Parties in the Upper House (8 Members
and Candidates) have signed the Pledge or have indicated their support
in writing for the PPL Principles.
- The
Leaders of the Liberal/National Parties have not signed. The Coalition
has released a Public Lands Policy (3 March 2003) that commits to principles
that are similar to those sought by PPL. They have indicated by letter
(Andrew Humpherson MP, Shadow Minister for Planning 7 March 2003) that
their Policy is to be regarded as representing the position of every
Coalition Candidate in NSW (There are 112 Coalition Candidates). PPL
seeks such a commitment by way of the signing of the Pledge.
- The
Premier has not signed the State Election Pledge. He has refused to
meet with PPL despite many requests. PPL has met with all other Political
Leaders. The Labor Party has no Public Lands Policy. There are many
significant public sites that are seriously threatened as a result of
the failure of the State Government to have proper or any principles
and policies in this area.
PPL has recently received a number of letters from Labor Candidates,
including one from Bob Debus Minister for the Environment, stating that
the Government manages public land and buildings for the benefit of
the entire community, which requires it to make decisions for the best
use of publicly owned sites if and when their use changes. PPL agrees
with this position so far as it relates to public lands that are not
of significance. However, there is no commitment by the Labor Party,
as sought by the Pledge, for legislation to properly protect significant
public land sites in accordance with PPL Principles and in public ownership
and control. One Labor Minister and four other Labor Candidates have
committed to PPL Principles and signed the Pledge.
- PPL
calls upon the Premier to listen to the people, to the grass roots supporters
of the Labor Party, and to those Labor Candidates who have signed the
Pledge, and develop a Public Lands Policy containing Principles as set
out in the PPL Charter and State Election Pledge, and sign the Pledge.
The
above Report was emailed on Tuesday 18th March, 2003 to all member groups
of PPL, including every major environmental organisation in the State,
31 community action groups and coalitions, and 9 Councils. In turn the
Report was emailed to members and supporters of the many groups.
On
Tuesday, 18th March the following article by Geraldine O'Brien appeared
in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Click
here to view original article.
Only Labor
lukewarm on public land pledge
By Geraldine O'Brien,
Heritage Writer
March 18 2003
The NSW Labor
Party has refused to sign a pledge designed to ensure the protection of
public land from sale or development.
However,
a number of Labor candidates in "sensitive" electorates have broken ranks
to sign it, according to the Protectors of Public Land. These include
Sandra Nori in Port Jackson - where there has been significant pressure
to preserve the Ballast Point headland and the Callan Park lands - and
candidates in Bligh, Lane Cove, Coffs Harbour and Myall Lakes.
The
pledge, initiated by PPL, has been signed by 116 candidates of all parties,
including the Democrats' leader, Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, the Greens'
Ian Cohen and independents Clover Moore (Bligh) and David Barr (Manly).
A
PPL spokesman, Phil Jenkyn, said that although Liberal and National leaders
had not signed, the Coalition had released a public lands policy that
was in accordance with the pledge's main elements. It was "an excellent
result from everyone but the Labor Party", he said.
He
stressed that PPL was a strictly non-party political organisation, but
said Labor was out of touch with its supporters.
"We
have to call it honestly and the Labor Party seems to be ignoring its
own grassroots supporters who want to ensure the protection of significant
public lands, and its own Labor Party members who have signed the pledge."
The
pledge commits its signatories to support an independent expert assessment
of the significance of all lands in public ownership; to the retention
of any lands deemed significant in public ownership and control; and to
the passing of legislation embodying these principles to protect all significant
public lands into the future.
The
Opposition's planning spokesman, Andrew Humpherson, has written to the
PPL saying that the Coalition policy on public lands - which includes
the pledge commitments - represents the position of all 112 Coalition
candidates. However, Mr Jenkyn said the PPL was still seeking their formal
signature to the pledge.
On
Friday, 21st March the following article by Claire O'Rourke appeared in
the Sydney Morning Herald.
Click
here to view original article.
This land
is our land, public tells parties
By Claire O'Rourke,
Urban Affairs reporter
March 21, 2003
It is probably
the only time John Brogden has received a standing ovation from Balmain
voters. Last year, on a winter night inside the town hall, the Opposition
leader pledged his support for the campaign to stop development at Callan
Park, Rozelle, and was applauded by the Labor-leaning community.
The audience
also got on their feet that night for well-known activist and former federal
Labor minister Tom Uren.
The future
of Sydney's public lands has formed new political friendships, galvanised
community groups and forced government backflips. Recent victories racked
up by grassroots activists suggest the major parties are paying attention
as election day approaches.
Just after
abandoning plans to close and sell schools at Hunters Hill and Erskineville
in October last year, the Carr Government dropped plans to develop part
of Callan Park, a controversy that had threatened to dislodge a cabinet
minister, Sandra Nori. The compulsory acquisition of the Ballast Point
site - also within Nori's seat of Port Jackson - could cost taxpayers
at least $24.5million.
Recently
the Planning Minister, Andrew Refshauge, announced $11.5million for improved
harbour foreshore access, and another $4.9million to upgrade the Cooks
River foreshore, which runs through Labor heartland. Following the Greens
win in last year's federal by-election in Cunningham, Dr Refshauge announced
a commission of inquiry into the Sandon Point proposal at Bulli.
The Mayor
of Leichhardt, Maire Sheehan, says the Callan Park crisis that stirred
up Port Jackson has abated, but people in the area now have a greater
awareness of the value of public lands in the area.
"There is
a lot of anger from electors who feel they are not being represented because
they are not in a marginal seat. But how this translates to the ballot
box remains to be seen on Saturday."
The Coalition
has also latched onto the cause, drafting a policy which would protect
significant lands, such as the Quarantine Station at North Head, Gladesville
Hospital and Hunters Hill High School, by listing them on a register.
The Prince Henry Hospital site at Little Bay and Rockdale Wetlands would
also be given high priority.
The Democrats
have called for a moratorium on public land sales until an independent
assessment process is established.
On Saturday
the Save Our Suburbs party will field 21 upper house candidates, and 12
in the lower house, in strong Labor seats such as Canterbury, Marrickville
and Rockdale. The lead candidate in the upper house race for SOS, Tony
Recsei, says the policies of the major parties simply don't add up. "They
all say they're against increasing the area of settlement but they also
say they are against over-development - that's impossible".
Protectors
of Public Lands (PPL), a coalition of local councils, community and environmental
groups that was formed in 2001, says a key to its lobbying campaign is
an election pledge to prevent the sale and development of important public
lands. More than 100 Greens, Democrats and independent candidates have
signed the pledge, as has Labor's Ms Nori. PPL spokesman Phil Jenkyn says
the ALP ignores community concerns at its peril. "They [the ALP] know
at the end of the day if they alienate not only the community but members
of their own party they are sowing the seeds of their own destruction,"
he says. "We're not afraid of the Government - we know the Government
is going to lose on this issue."
Meanwhile,
development of 5000 homes is on the cards for the 1500 hectares of federal
land on the former Australian Defence Industries site at St Marys, but
a long community battle has won increased public space - from 630 hectares
to 900 hectares.
ADI campaign
spokesman and SOS upper house candidate Noel Plumb cites 13,000 letters
to state and federal MPs as evidence constituents are backing their cause.
Local candidates
running with SOS are giving preferences to the Liberals after the Greens
and the Democrats in the north-western seat of Londonderry, but the two
major parties don't get a mention in the neighbouring seats of Penrith,
Mulgoa and Mount Druitt.
Penrith,
with its new Labor candidate, Karyn Paluzzano, is seen as a more sensitive
seat, despite the ALP's 16.7 per cent margin. In February, Ms Paluzzano
withdrew support for a development on former defence land at North Penrith.
Last week Dr Refshauge pledged to save the ADI site if the Federal Government
handed it over.
"They [the
ALP] are going to have a much tougher time holding Penrith than they thought,"
Mr Plumb says. "Out here is the same as a whole lot of areas of Sydney
... the issues of over-development and bad planning are boiling along."
On Friday
21st March the Premier Bob Carr appeared on Quentin Dempster's Stateline
on ABC TV. He was asked a question by Paola Totaro concerning the Government's
backflip on Callan Park. The Premier's answer in relation to this significant
heritage site is illuminating.
PAOLA TOTARO: What about the backflip on Callan Park?
Do you admit that that was a mistake?
BOB CARR: If it was a mistake it was done for the very finest of reasons
-- that is to find a big slab of capital to put into mental health services.
That's why it was done.
QUENTIN DEMPSTER: And coincidentally alienate public land for the benefit,
partly, of property development?
BOB CARR: No, a small proportion -- sometimes governments if they want
a big slab of capital for new capital can only get it, not with the
normal incremental growth that occurs in a capital works budget, but
by selling an asset.
And an old-fashioned mental hospital was no longer required.
DAVID PENBERTHY: But you haven't dropped the plan because you think
the plan was wrong?
You've dropped the plan because you don't want the Greens to win Port
Jackson, haven't you?
BOB CARR: No, we've dropped the plan because a lot of decent people,
not members of the Greens political party, but a lot of decent people
refused to accept that in their neighbourhood, in their their area,
you could have that sort of trade-off.
The Community
march from the Rally to the ADI site at St Marys.
The site was reclaimed in the name of the people of Australia.
POLITICAL
PARTIES PUBLIC LANDS POLICIES - 2003
(in order of receipt)
The
Democrats Public Lands Policy - February,
2003
The
Greens Policy on Public Lands - February,
2003
The
Liberals/Nationals Protecting Public Lands - 3rd
March, 2003
There
is no Labor Party Policy dealing specifically with significant public
lands. A written response from some Labor candidates to the request to
sign the Pledge was as follows:
"The
Carr Government is committed to managing public land and buildings for
the benefit of the entire community. This requires government to make
decisions for the best use of publicly owned sites if and when their
use changes."
POLITICAL
PARTIES' RESPONSES TO MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
- The National
Trust of Australia (NSW) - click here
to view the Trust's letter to the major political parties and their
responses
- National
Parks Association of NSW - Click here
to download pdf file - "Election Issues 2003 - NPA Sydney Branch"
- Nature
Conservation Council of New South Wales - Click
here to download pdf file to see ALP response (pages 10 and 11)
ELECTION
RESULTS
- The State
Election was held on Saturday 22nd March 2003. The Carr Labor Government
after the election (and later by-election) has the same majority as
it previously had (Legislative Assembly - Labor 55, Coalition 32, Independents
6)
- In the
Legislative Council (Upper House) Labor holds 18 seats, the Coalition
13, the Greens 3, Christian Democrats 2, Democrats 1, Unity Party 1,
Reform the Legal System 1, Outdoor Recreation Party 1, Shooters' Party
1 and One Nation 1.
- A majority
of members in the Upper House has expressed support for the principles
enunciated by PPL.
- The Sydney
Morning Herald's editorial the day before the Election supported the
return of the Labor Government. In its analysis of the Government's
performance it stated 'Labor's performance on planning is poor.' PPL
and the wider community agree with that assessment. The Government must
significantly improve its performance in this area. It should adopt
a principled approach to planning in relation to significant public
land sites as advocated by PPL.
POST
ELECTION
- The Government
has established a new Department of Infrastructure and Planning, whose
Minister is Craig Knowles. The former Director of Planning Sue Holliday
has been removed.
- The first
actions of the Minister involved signing off on the approval for the
hotel development on the Quarantine Station, and the removal of the
planning powers from Ku-ring-gai Council in relation to six sites on
the main ridge line in the municipality allowing highrise development.
Both actions demonstrate that the Government is continuing its discredited
policies and is not listening to the wider community on planning and
heritage issues.
THE WAY
FORWARD
- The way
forward involves PPL and its member groups pursuing the following actions
- Building
upon existing support of progressive elements within the Labor Party,
amongst members and supporters for the adoption of principles that properly
protect significant public lands.
- Seeking
support from all political parties for appropriate protective legislation
- Making
use of the majority support that PPL has in the Upper House
- Increasing
public awareness of public land issues
- Supporting
ongoing and new community campaigns to save significant sites
- Calling
upon Union support for PPL principles and campaigns
- Developing
a new strategy to label endangered sites and bringing together progressive
elements within the community for co-ordinated action.
June,
2003
PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC LANDS (PPL)
Website
: www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/ppl.html
E-mail: ppl@nsw.nationaltrust.org.au
Fax: (02) 9258 0164
Address: c/o the National Trust PO Box 518 Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone: (02) 9258 0161
CONTACTS:
Jacqui Goddard Secretary - tel: (02) 9258 0161
Maire Sheehan Convenor - tel: o411 697 041
Phil Jenkyn Spokesperson - tel: (02) 9817 2677
DOCUMENTS
Access
the following documents by clicking on their links
Committee
and Member Group, March 2003
The Charter
Membership and Procedures
The Pledge
Assessment of Significance
General Principles to be Applied by All Governments
Public Lands Protection Bill
(Click here for printable version)
Significant Public Land Sites, March 2003
Private Lands of Public Significance
PPL State Election Strategy 2003
PPL State Election Pledge 2003
(Printable Version
- Click here)
Letter
to all Candidates 18th February, 2003
Photographs courtesy of Weekly Times, Friends of Callan Park and Ouranita
Karadimas, and the National Trust
MARCH,
2003
|
