Chris Harris

Clover calls in the cops to stifle resident protest

March 26th, 2009

Sydney’s hard pressed police were called in this week to remove protestors from the City of Sydney’s works site in Wood St, Forest Lodge. The protestors were trying to make the Lord Mayor see reason and remove a large switchback path that was a last minute inclusion in the design of the important wildlife habitat area contained within the project.

The protestors are all local residents who live on either side of the works site, and they are hopping mad because they are been denied the habitat refuge that has been promised to them for over a decade.

On Monday 23rd March I asked the CEO who from the City of Sydney had called in the police to remove the protestors from the site. Protestors had informed me that a City of Sydney car was visiting the site on a regular basis and that the driver had taken photos of them. The CEO replied that no City staff had called the police. However it seemed odd to me that five police officers, and an inspector would be attending the site on the basis of an anonymous phone call.

The protest has continued each day since and on Wednesday 25th the attending police gave a direction that protestors leave the site. Most followed the direction and one protestor refused. Police carried her from the site. It should be noted that she was treated with respect and police were courteous. I commend the manner in which they carried out their duty.

The project manager, an employee of the developer (Frasers), spoke to the protestors before the police direction and revealed that all his instructions about work on the site came from the City of Sydney. Further he stated that the request for police intervention also came from the City of Sydney.

It is clear that someone from the City of Sydney has called in the police – we have direct evidence of that now. It is also clear that this could not have happened without the agreement of the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore.

The Lord Mayor appears to have introduced a new model of City engagement with the community. ‘Do what I say or we will call in the police!’ This is an absurd response to what is now a large Forest Lodge community united against the City over last minute, unwanted changes to a small local project in their backyard.

It really is about time that the Lord Mayor has a reality check and starts listening to this community. Arresting people because they are concerned about what is going on in their neighbourhood is contrary to everything that the Lord Mayor peddles as her approach to civic leadership.

Wake up Clover. It is time to let go of this intrusive pathway that you seem so attached to. Give the Forest Lodge people their wildlife habitat.