BY ALISTAIR DICKINSON
SYDNEY — The redevelopment of the former Australian Defence Industries (ADI) site near St Marys, in Sydney's outer western suburbs, is one step closer with the NSW Labor government's approval of the construction of a private school complex on the hotly contested bushland. The local Penrith council has also approved the school.
The proposed school is at the Western end of the site and occupies a prime position in terms of real estate value. The details of the transaction between the Catholic Education Office and the federal government, the owners of the land, is a tightly guarded secret.
The ADI redevelopment will be one of the largest to be undertaken in Australia, involving at least 8000 homes, shops and factories. It is a joint venture between the federal government and the Lend Lease Corporation.
An emergency public meeting was called by the ADI Residents Action Group on June 13. Residents reaffirmed their long-held objective of preserving the whole of the ADI site as a regional park, and to resist, if necessary by non-violent direct action, any development work on the land, including the building of the private school.
There was also agreement to continue efforts to win trade union support for the preservation of the ADI site. A letter has been sent to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union which draws attention to the adverse social and environmental consequences of the development. CFMEU support is crucial to blocking the development.
The letter pointed out that, contrary to the assertions of senior politicians and the developers, the scheme would do nothing in the long-term to resolve the problems of joblessness, inadequate social services, juvenile crime and drug addiction, which are endemic to Sydney's outer-west. It would also be an environmental disaster, adding to Sydney's smog, water pollution and endangered bushland.
Meeting participants were informed that a legal challenge may be mounted against the federal government's decision, made some time ago but only recently announced, to forgo an environmental impact study of the development.
The residents' readiness to broaden the campaign to include the trade unions represents a considerable shift in perspective compared to their earlier reliance on lobbying parliamentarians. Many now realise that, particularly after the last federal election, most politicians quickly forget promises they have made once they are re-elected.
From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.
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