Inner West Council's Labor Councillors are trying to push through the rezoning of West Leichhardt even though it will harm the GreenWay and signal the end of small bird biodiversity in Leichhardt, even though there are better alternative sites that have no biodiversity impact or involve removing existing homes.

This Tuesday, Independent and Greens Councillors are trying to stop this and save the GreenWay.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Let the Inner West Labor Councillors know you are against their plans to rezone West Leichhardt and harm the GreenWay - here are their email addresses and here are sample letters to help you.
• Attend Tuesday's meeting to show support for those fighting to save the GreenWay (details below).

More Information:

We need you to stand with us at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 4th June 2024 at 6.30pm to support Councillors John Stamolis, Marghanita Da Cruz, Liz Atkins and Kobi Shetty who have lodged a rescission motion - ITEM 2: NOTICE OF MOTION TO RESCIND: C0524(1) ITEM 18 UPDATE ON  PARRAMATTA ROAD CORRIDOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY STATE 1 PLANNING  PROPOSAL. This meeting will take place at 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield.

This Rescind Motion is to try to reverse the decision of Tuesday 21 May made by the Labor Councillors on Inner West Council who voted en bloc to forward the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy Planning Proposal to the Department of Planning for ‘finalisation and gazettal’.   

This is despite the major concerns raised by state agencies relate to:

·      Biodiversity

·      Flooding

·      Drinking water capacity to service new residents

·      Traffic Access (acquisition of land by TfNSW along Parramatta Road)

This was not listed on the agenda and residents had not been notified that this would be considered.  In fact, the agenda listed a report explaining why there was a delay in processing the Proposal.   The decision was carried 8-7 with the Mayor using his casting vote. (In the event of a tied vote the Mayor gets a second vote. (Clr Griffiths did not vote for or against the motion) The two Independents and the Greens voted against).

In addition, the submissions from residents and community groups have yet to be considered by Council planners and Councillors – as required both by the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act and the Council’s own processes.

There are much better alternative sites nearby where development would have no biodiversity impact - yet it appears that Labor Councillors seem intent on rezoning the area that will cause the most devastation to what little biodiversity is left in Leichhardt.

This is a vital biodiversity habit corridor – if this area is rezoned, then it will almost certainly be GOODBYE GREENWAY. 

Background

Australia is in the midst of an extinction crisis. Our Urban areas are now providing refuge for 46% of threatened species. Keeping these areas of habitat has become critical in saving these animals.

One of these critical habitat areas has been identified for rezoning in PRCUT. This area abuts the Cooks River to Iron GreenWay in Leichhardt. The GreenWay is the spine of the Inner Wests Blue Green grid which links the Cooks River with Roselle parklands. Kegworth, Beeson, Hathern and Tebbutt Streets are critical trellis streets that support the densest and most biodiverse part of the GreenWay.

Organisations such as the Australasian Bat Society, Birdlife Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Inner West Environmental Group; and the Greenway Birdos; acknowledge that the houses in Taverners Hill play a crucial role to support biodiversity and the significant ecological harm that would occur as a result of rezoning and subsequent redevelopment. The potential consequences of rezoning extend beyond the immediate site, impacting the broader ecological health of the Inner West for future generations.

Taverners Hill have critical trellis streets that support the densest and most biodiverse part of the GreenWay. These backyards contain large mature connected tree canopy (Some 100 years old) that support vulnerable native species including the State-listed Powerful Owl, Grey-headed Flying Fox and Eastern Bent-wing bat. These trees are now only starting to produce hollows which are critical for many endangered parrots to nest. Over 50 native birds species have been identified in this part of the GreenWay. This is the last habitat area in Leichhardt for small birds like the Superb Fairy Wren, white browned scrub wrens and spotted pardalotes, they will have nowhere else to re-establish.  

It would appear that the Labor Councillors have NO CONCERN for “biodiversity” in the inner west and  have not even taking into consideration the proposed biodiversity strategy which is supposed to be presented to IWC in the June Council meeting later in the month.