MEDIA RELEASE - August 27, 2015

Parliament on Thursday backed the Member for Balmain’s motion* about Bays Precinct with consensus support from MPs of all political stripes.

“Bays Precinct is a matter of serious interest and concern for many people in my electorate, and has been for more than a decade,” said Jamie Parker MP, Greens spokesperson on Urban Growth.

“I am encouraged by the unanimous agreement from government, opposition and independent members of parliament. I wanted all MPs to be aware of the significance of this large area of publicly owned land, as well as committing to a number of key principles in the long-term public interest.

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“Today Parliament sent a strong message that UrbanGrowth NSW, the government’s developer responsible for the ‘biggest urban renewal project in the world’, needs to prioritise principles incorporating social and affordable housing, active and passive open space, environmental sustainability, community facilities, and public transport.

“There is already a clear community expectation of public access to the foreshore and connectivity without it being monstered by massive development and flyovers.

“I remain a champion for light rail being a central element of an integrated sustainable transport plan for the Bays Precinct and Balmain peninsula. 

“I am concerned that to date UrbanGrowth has only spoken about affordable housing in the Bays Precinct as micro-apartments, not rent-controlled properties as defined under the Act as affordable housing and so far has not proposed one new social housing property.

“We have the opportunity to make Sydney more liveable with a vibrant, connected, diverse, inclusive and sustainable Bays Precinct. Much can be learned from the Barangaroo experience when that opportunity has been squandered at a significant cost to the taxpayer and a great loss to the Treasury of this State.

“The Greens are committed to world-best practice for engagement, planning, governance, development and evaluation we can deliver in the long-term public interest, and inspire not only the people of the inner west of Sydney but also all Australians.

Read Jamie's work on Bays Precinct

*Text of motion supported by the Legislative Assembly on 27/8/15:

MR JAMIE PARKER to move—

That this House:

(1)    Notes the Bays Precinct consists of 80 hectares of government owned land including many significant heritage sites.

(2)    Acknowledges the 2013 Bays Precinct Taskforce Plan that was developed with community and local government input.

(3)    Calls on the Government to undertake best-practice community consultation worthy of the world's biggest urban renewal project.

(4)    Calls on the Government to prioritise social and affordable housing, active and passive open space, environmental sustainability, community facilities, and public transport links.