Alternative Media Group

Marrickville monstrosity

Author:

Roger Hanney

Posted:

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

By Roger Hanney

Residents of Marrickville, St Peters, and surrounds are actively campaigning against developer plans to more than double the size of local shopping centre, Marrickville Metro. In mid March, opportunity for further public input was closed as provided by the state government’s 3A planning powers.

In a recent twist, Metro owners AMP Capitol have revised their redesign plans. While the new centre will still more than double its current size, existing parking will now be halved, increasing the anticipated impact on neighbours of a shopping centre already choked by its lack of access to main roads.

In an early test of new Premier Barry O’Farrell’s proclaimed commitment to excise 3A from the planning process, new Planning Minister Brad Hazzard is being called on to return responsibility for decisionmaking and consultation to local interests.

“AMP Capital have been a major contributor to NSW Labor, donating $265,000 over the past 10 years,” said local Mayor and Greens candidate in the state election, Fiona Byrne.

“Part 3A was supposed to be used for “state significant developments”. I fail to see how doubling the size of a local shopping centre can be considered a state significant issue,” she continued.

“Barry O’Farrell can show the people of Marrickville and NSW that his actions will back up his words by committing today to rejecting unwanted Part 3A developments like the Marrickville Metro expansion,” said Ms Byrne.

Longtime 3A campaigner, Greens Upper House MP David Shoebridge commented that “the Coalition have said they will repeal Part 3A and are committed to community consultation in the planning process. The Marrickville Metro expansion is a perfect test case for whether Barry O’Farrell and the Coalition actually mean what they say.”

Residents and campaigners are not only concerned about the immediate impact of the development, but the traffic threat to local school children, and the economic threat to local businesses from King Street Newtown to Enmore and Marrickville Roads.

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