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Minister Steers Government Toward Another Cross City Tunnel Disaster - 9 June 2006

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP in a Media release of 9 JUne 2006 called on the Minister for Planning to come clean on just how much money the State Government was planning to take from the CUB site, and to give assurances about how this money would be spent.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP today called on the Minister for Planning to come clean on just how much money the State Government was planning to take from the CUB site, and to give assurances about how this money would be spent.

“I have sought an urgent meeting with the Premier to resolve this issue and find a way forward that does not delay the process or impose unsustainable density increases – resulting in future slums.

“I would hope that the Iemma Government has learned its lesson from the Cross City Tunnel and won't be pushing for a large upfront cash payment in exchange for controls which are contrary to the broader public interest. The real issue here is transparency and public accountability, so the community can be confident that the Minister's actions are in the public interest.

“The City and Fosters were ready to close the deal last week. Now the Minister’s intervention will add up to a year to the process.

"On the lower density proposed by the City and CSPC (Central Sydney Planning Committee) for this site, the State Government will be taking about $30Million. If the density goes up, as the Minister has flagged, then this amount could increase substantially.

“This uncapped State Government payment is called an affordable housing levy but it goes directly to the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA). The RWA was created in 2004 without any extra funding. I expressed concern at this back then, and the community deserves to know just how this money will be used.

“There is a clear conflict of interest here. How can the Minister claim to provide a balanced outcome for the community and the future of the City, when he is ignoring expert advice and advocating for an increase in the size of the development which will see his Government reap a cash bonanza.’’

“The Minister’s uninformed attack on the Lord Mayor and the City is an attack on his colleagues, the three ALP members on Council, who supported the planning controls for the site and his appointees to the CSPC who again affirmed their support for the planning controls, the density and the process.

Ms Moore said the Minister’s actions showed a contempt for professional advice and the democratic process.

"The minister clearly has a problem with working within a democratic framework and being accountable for his decisions. When he doesn't want to come clean then he resorts to personal abuse – well bully boy tactics won't wash here.

“It happened with Lucy Turnbull too. He wants people to toe the line. Well, the Council and the CSPC are just asking the obvious questions here and the public has a right to know. It's not helpful to shoot the messenger!"

“Transparency is the key here, and if the Minister has nothing to hide then he needs to come clean. What has he told Fosters to derail their agreement with the City? How much is he planning to take? How much higher does he want densities on this site? How will the money be spent and publicly accounted for?

“Any attack on me or the City council is just an attempt to divert attention from these fundamental questions. And it’s an insult to the public who deserve to know," Ms Moore said.