Dear Supporter,
Inquiry into the Sydney stadiums strategy
The Public Works Committee of the Legislative Council is conducting an inquiry into the Sydney Stadiums strategy. It is to report by 28 September 2018. The Terms of Reference are [here]. Two specific items:
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The development and planning assessment process for Sydney’s sports stadiums, including opportunities for public input, and
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Options to protect, preserve and expand green space at Moore Park.
If you have views you’d like to express to the Committee on these or other items in the Terms of Reference, we encourage you to do so directly - the closing date for submissions is 25 May. We’ll be making a submission and will publicise this in due course.
Submissions can be lodged via the Public Works Committee’s website [here] or via email to Public.Works@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Another building on SCG Trust lands
Current planning for the new stadium makes no provision for a swimming pool or gym and will involve demolition of office accommodation for the Sydney Roosters, Cricket NSW and others currently housed in the Sheridan Building. We understand that the SCG Trust may have plans to construct (and pay for) a new five storey building next door to the Rugby Australia/UTS building to accommodate these.
On 27 April we wrote to the Trust’s CEO, Jamie Barkley seeking confirmation of this and an assurance that if such a building were constructed, it be subject to a DA/EIS process that is no less extensive and thorough than that being used by Infrastructure NSW in the case of the Stadium. We also flagged our expectation that the SCG Trust will provide a development contribution to the Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust to assist in the implementation of its Moore Park Master Plan.
We have not yet received a response.
SCG Trust Advisory Group (TAG)
Having established the TAG as a forum for communicating with the local community, we note that the Trust has not arranged for Infrastructure NSW to brief it on the Sydney Football Stadium development plans until 20 June - after the Environmental Impact Statement in respect of the demolition of the Stadium has been lodged. We would have thought the TAG would be the first community group to be consulted, not the last.
The TAG held its first meeting in September 2016 and there have been eight meetings in all - the most recent in February 2018. It was agreed at the outset that a list of members and the Minutes of meetings would be posted on the Trust’s website so as to communicate its activities to the community, but until recently this hasn’t happened. The list of members and several sets of Minutes - excluding those of the February meeting - have now been posted [here] along with the Minutes of the Members Advisory Group.
Anzac Day Dawn Service
A second Dawn Service was held at the Obelisk in Moore Park on 25 April, attended by about 150 people. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Prime Minister, the Australian Army, the City of Sydney, the Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust, the SCG Trust, Rugby Australia, the National Rugby League, Sydney Boys High School and Saving Moore Park.
We acknowledge the support provided by the ADF. An Army officer gave the address and a bugler from the Australian Army Band in Brisbane played The Last Post and Reveille. We expect Dawn Services at the Obelisk will draw increasingly large crowds in years to come.
Michael Waterhouse
Convenor
Saving Moore Park Inc.
16 May 2018
http://www.savingmoorepark.com