Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally today
gave notice of motion in the Parliament condemning Clover Moore MP for not
supporting the 31 small businesses, 3 local schools, local welfare groups,
local churches, and over 15 Aboriginal groups who back the PCYC’s proposal to
redevelop Redfern Oval.
“Despite a remarkable
coalition of support from the Redfern-Waterloo community, as well as
cross-partisan support from the Greens, Liberal and Labor councilors, Clover
Moore used her casting vote to ram through her ideological agenda for Redfern
Oval,” Ms Keneally said.
“Clover Moore and her team
ran for election under the banner of ‘community independents.”
“Well, that’s turned out to
be a pretty apt description: they are acting completely independently from the South Sydney community.”
Ms Keneally said that she was
advised that the following community groups had endorsed the PCYC proposal:
Alexandria Park Community
School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School,
Waterloo
Darlington
Public School
Human Services Planning Group
– Redfern Waterloo Authority
South Sydney Youth Services
Pathways to Prevention
Committee
Metropolitan Land Council
Redfern Local Area Command
Redfern Aboriginal Authority
(a governing body representing 13 Indigenous Interagencies)
Aboriginal Medical Service
Aboriginal Housing
Corporation
Murawina Aboriginal Child
Care Centre
Wunanbiri
Child Care Centre
Connect
Redfern
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Football Club
South
Sydney Leagues Club
Local churches in Redfern and
Waterloo of all
denominations
Local welfare groups
31 small businesses in the
surrounding streets, including newsagents, butchers, cafes, bakeries,
hairdressers, supermarkets, and shoe repairers
“Instead of genuinely
listening to the local community, it seems Clover Moore did what she has done
since being elected Lord Mayor – ignore the community south of Cleveland Street,”
Ms Keneally said.
“Bear in mind, north of Cleveland Street
you can find 4 pools, with another $40 million project underway at Ultimo.”
“But south of Cleveland Street,
there is only open space – no active recreation facility,” Ms Keneally
said.
“Given the high proportion of
high rise accommodation and socio-economic disadvantage, you would think the
Council would support an active recreation facility in the Redfern and Waterloo area.”
“Since election as Lord
Mayor, Clover Moore has increased funding to the pool in Ultimo from $25
million to $40 million.”
“This pool is in the enlarged
state seat of Bligh.”
“But in the enlarged state
seat of Heffron, the old state seat of Bligh, Clover Moore has instead used her
casting vote to knock down Redfern Oval – ripping the heart out of South Sydney.”
Ms Keneally said it was sadly
ironic that Clover Moore had used this ham-fisted approach to destroying a
community-backed facility.
“Clover Moore’s
political career started when, as a mum with young kids, she campaigned to get
the council to improve facilities in South Sydney.”
“As a mum with young kids in South Sydney today, I know first-hand that our area
sorely lacks an active recreational community facility.”
“I urge those councilors who
did not support the community backed proposal to reconsider their position next
week when the proposal comes before the full Council.”
CONTACT – Kristina Keneally