May 27, 2016 - 11:45PM
Jack Thompson: Hands off the Bondi Pavilion
Construction workers have imposed a green ban on the $38 million renovation plan for Bondi Pavilion proposed by the mayor of Waverley Sally Betts, as residents plan more protests against what they say amounts to privatisation of public space.
As tensions over the mayor's plans escalated this week in raucous council meetings, the Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union (CFMEU) executive decided to impose a ban on working on the site until there was community support for the project.
The ban will be formally announced on Sunday at an event outside the iconic art deco pavilion, with the former champion of green bans in Sydney, Jack Mundey, who is now in his 80s as the guest speaker.
The Builders Labourers Federation, led by Mr Mundey, made green bans a household word in the 1970s, when they first ordered union members not to destroy Kelly's bush in Hunters Hill and later ordered members not to work on the demolition of terraces in the Rocks. The move led to the preservation of the building heritage and also prompted the government to preserve much of the Rocks for public housing. This includes of course the Rocks housing that the Baird-faced NSW Premier is now selling off to destroy a vibrant elderly community.
CFMEU state president of the construction branch Brian Parker said his union had decided on the ban on working on the site because of the depth of community support.
"We will be standing side by side with the local residents to make sure that work isn't started on the project until there has been proper consultation and discussion and it's all been agreed with the stakeholders," he said.
Iconic Australian artist John Olsen.
"Similar to the Rocks, it's my understanding that this will take away public space, take away people from the arts. We think its ridiculous that the council and the mayor think they can railroad ratepayers, and that it will be privatised," he said.
Highlighting the importance of Bondi Pavilion as an arts and culture centre, well-known australian artist John Olsen and his son Tim Olsen, who runs a well-known gallery in Woollahra, will also join the rally on Sunday.
Bondi residents are up in arms about part of the plan to turn the first floor and balcony into space for restaurants and cafes.
Kilty O'Brien, convener of Save Bondi Pavilion, said there had been over 700 submissions on the council plan and only six in favour.
"The community's voice is clearly saying it does need to be restored but it needs to remain a community space. You cannot charge us $38 million and lock us out for the privilege," she said.
The CFMEU's Brian Parker, Kilty O'Brien, musician Dave Faulkner and Rita Mallia outside the Bondi Pavilion.
Dave Faulkner, a musician best known for his time with the Hoodoo Gurus, has lived in Bondi since 1984.
"It's a vital resource for families with children," he says. "A drink on the balcony is part of Bondi life."
Faulkner believes that the $38 million restoration will turn the Pavilion into a shopping centre.
"It's an expensive, radical change to a resource the community is perfectly content with. The whole thing is an act of cultural vandalism and a flagrant waste of ratepayers' money. Its a virtual theft of community property to benefit developers."
Read more:
Jack Thompson: Hands off the Bondi Pavilion
 |
| Actor Jack Thompson, a long time resident of Bondi, urges Waverley Council to pause on its redevelopment of the iconic Bondi Pavilion. |
As tensions over the mayor's plans escalated this week in raucous council meetings, the Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union (CFMEU) executive decided to impose a ban on working on the site until there was community support for the project.
The ban will be formally announced on Sunday at an event outside the iconic art deco pavilion, with the former champion of green bans in Sydney, Jack Mundey, who is now in his 80s as the guest speaker.
 |
| Former BLF leader and green ban man Jack Mundey being carried from a protest at The Rocks in the early seventies. |
The Builders Labourers Federation, led by Mr Mundey, made green bans a household word in the 1970s, when they first ordered union members not to destroy Kelly's bush in Hunters Hill and later ordered members not to work on the demolition of terraces in the Rocks. The move led to the preservation of the building heritage and also prompted the government to preserve much of the Rocks for public housing. This includes of course the Rocks housing that the Baird-faced NSW Premier is now selling off to destroy a vibrant elderly community.
CFMEU state president of the construction branch Brian Parker said his union had decided on the ban on working on the site because of the depth of community support.
"We will be standing side by side with the local residents to make sure that work isn't started on the project until there has been proper consultation and discussion and it's all been agreed with the stakeholders," he said.
Iconic Australian artist John Olsen.
"Similar to the Rocks, it's my understanding that this will take away public space, take away people from the arts. We think its ridiculous that the council and the mayor think they can railroad ratepayers, and that it will be privatised," he said.
Highlighting the importance of Bondi Pavilion as an arts and culture centre, well-known australian artist John Olsen and his son Tim Olsen, who runs a well-known gallery in Woollahra, will also join the rally on Sunday.
Bondi residents are up in arms about part of the plan to turn the first floor and balcony into space for restaurants and cafes.
Kilty O'Brien, convener of Save Bondi Pavilion, said there had been over 700 submissions on the council plan and only six in favour.
"The community's voice is clearly saying it does need to be restored but it needs to remain a community space. You cannot charge us $38 million and lock us out for the privilege," she said.
The CFMEU's Brian Parker, Kilty O'Brien, musician Dave Faulkner and Rita Mallia outside the Bondi Pavilion.
Dave Faulkner, a musician best known for his time with the Hoodoo Gurus, has lived in Bondi since 1984.
"It's a vital resource for families with children," he says. "A drink on the balcony is part of Bondi life."
Faulkner believes that the $38 million restoration will turn the Pavilion into a shopping centre.
"It's an expensive, radical change to a resource the community is perfectly content with. The whole thing is an act of cultural vandalism and a flagrant waste of ratepayers' money. Its a virtual theft of community property to benefit developers."
Read more:
No comments:
Post a Comment