A well-attended online meeting entitled 鈥淗ands off Callan Park鈥, organised by聽Inner West Council (IWC) on October 27, discussed the NSW government鈥檚 draft bill covering Sydney parklands.
The , released on October 1, hands power to corporations seeking to profit from some of Sydney鈥檚 most iconic 聽green spaces, including Callan Park. Commercial leases of up to 50 years would be offered for some of the most iconic buildings on the site.
described this as 鈥減rivatisation by stealth 鈥 gutting the Callan Park Act for commercial gain鈥.
The government wants to remove council as the consent authority and change the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002. This will lead to privatisation and commercialisation, which Inner West residents have opposed for decades and are determined to stop Callan Park form being sold off to the highest bidder.
Speakers included Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous, Aaron Callaghan, IWC Parks and Recreation Planning Manager, lawyer Sue Puckeridge, Councillor Darcy Byrne and Councillor John Stamolis.
[Help defeat this bad bill by . The deadline is聽October 29.]