Community key to Long Bay success

Community key to Long Bay success

BY LUCAS BAIRD

Success of the Government’s Long Bay Gaol plan hinges on close interaction with the community, according to a sustainability expert.

Associate Professor at UTS, Roberta Ryan said that it is critical that the State Government “treat these places as their own neighbourhood” to ensure project relevance and satisfaction with the community.

Prof. Ryan identified that any redevelopment was a balancing act between the environment, housing needs and what fits in with the local area. Which are all aspects the community should have a say in.

She claimed it was time for the government to put their best foot forward and lead by example.

“I think certainly that there is an opportunity for governments to lead the way and set the expectations for how the private sector developers work in that way,” Prof. Ryan said.

“Often it [community consultation] is done too quickly and the engagement that happened with communities is done in a way that is not genuine.”

Randwick Council’s Labor Mayor, Noel D’Souza echoed Prof. Ryan’s sentiments.

Cr D’Souza urged the government to not “put the cart before the horse” and listen to what the community has to say.

“Community consultation is essential in Randwick City,” he said.

“The impression I get with a lot of decisions at that level is that they make a decision and then the community is expected to just go along with it.”

The recent Landcom Prince Henry Hospital redevelopment took place in same Malabar precinct only a few years ago.

Malabar Precinct chair, Lilly Weekes, said that the community consultation for that project was a mess.

“I was actually on the board there [Prince Henry Hospital], and I opted out of it because what we were showing us and what they were doing were two different things,” Ms Weekes said.

“There is never enough of it because they tell you one thing and they show you drawings and all that and the next time you go, thing have changed.”

Ms Weekes explained that if she had the chance, she would bring up the impact on the environment at any community consultation.

She issued concern that local flora and fauna would be heavily affected by any development in the area.

However, Cr D’Souza is less concerned with environmental sustainability.

Cr D’Souza said that because the Long Bay Gaol is already in use, it will not be affected as badly by development had it been an unoccupied site.

Friends of Malabar Headland chair, Mr Pyett, somewhat supported Cr D’Souza’s view that the environment might not be adversely affected.

Mr Pyett said that the only way the headlands would be affected would be the increased use of the area for walks. But he said that the walking tracks are unlikely to be used more than they are now because they are reserved for shooters.

“The only thing that we would be slightly interested in would be the usage of the walking tracks and that is not likely to happen in the next 50 years because the shooters have just got a 50 year lease,” Mr Pyett said.

Prof. Ryan’s calls come after the government recently announced plans to redevelop Long Bay Gaol after a new facility in the south-western suburb of Wollondilly is built. The new prison is estimated to hold around 5000 inmates.

The government’s plan to reduce overcrowding in prisons is in large part responsible for this plan.

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