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GOVT SELLS OFF LAND BUT WCPS WOLLI BLUFF CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

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The NSW state Labor government has just sold off part of a green corridor that it said it supported. This is an embarrassing backflip for the Premier, Chris Minns, who less than a year ago made a public commitment to preserve inner urban green space.

Two blocks of publicly owned land at Wolli Bluff in Earlwood were sold at auction on 2 April 2025 for $2.93M. The blocks are part of our Unwin Green Street proposal, which itself forms part of a wider green link between the Cooks River and Wolli Creek valleys.

The auction was held off-site at 50 Margaret St Sydney. The Wolli Creek Preservation Society (WCPS) turned up with a banner and leaflets warning bidders that council could soon re-zone the blocks, and that the community will continue to oppose development at Wolli Bluff.

The President of WCPS, Chris Jordens, was escorted from the premises by a security officer who said he was acting on instructions from unnamed NSW government officials.  A member of the public was also denied entry to the auction and told that, on instructions from the NSW Government, only registered bidders would be admitted to the auction room.

This sell-off was no administrative error. It was intentional, and the government did its best to conceal its intentions from the community and keep the community away from the auction.  According to a Planning Certificate given to the bidders only a day before the auction, the blocks are on ecologically sensitive land.

WCPS is pursuing a freedom of information request (GIPA) and will inform our members and the wider community about what we learn, although this will take time.

The WCPS campaign to stop development on the blocks at Wolli Bluff has only just begun. We will continue to campaign for a green corridor linking the Wolli and Cooks River valleys and prevent any destruction at Wolli Bluff.

Graphic of land at Wolli Bluff

MISTAKEN IDENTITY: DILEMMA FOR MINNS

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We call on the Premier to rectify an error which we believe has occurred in relation to the imminent sale by auction of crucial lots of publicly-owned, open space land immediately adjacent to Wolli Creek Regional Park at Wolli Bluff. For more see the recent WCPS media release

250328 media release 2B

Wolli Bluff sign

SAVE WOLLI BLUFF FROM DEVELOPERS

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Out of the blue, the Department of Planning has listed two blocks of bushland at Wolli Bluff for sale by auction on 2 April. This is contrary to the expectations we had after meeting with several NSW State politicians.

The land has been combined into one large block, suitable only for developers.

For Sale sign
For Sale sign

For many years WCPS has been campaigning to create a green corridor linking the Wolli Creek Regional Park to the Cooks River Valley. Our plans for the corridor include government-owned bushland at the Eastern end of the Regional Park. Our plans have been supported by Canterbury Bankstown Council and the local member, Sophie Cotsis.

We accept that Sydney needs more housing, but this should not come at the cost of open green space. Premier Chris Minns said so himself in a media appearance at Turrella Reserve on 8 March 2024:

“If we’re going to build houses, particularly closer to the CBD, we need to preserve and protect as much green space as we possibly can. … We can’t just build houses; we have to build world class beautiful parks, and that means preserving every bit of green space that we can possibly get our hands on.”

Despite the encouraging words, these two blocks of bushland that should form an important part of the green corridor will be lost on 2 April, unless the sale is stopped.

What you can do:

Ask the Premier to immediately withdraw the sale of bushland adjacent to Wolli Bluff (16-18 Bayview Avenue Earlwood)

  • Contact Premier Minns using his webform

https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/premier-of-nsw/contact-premier

Here are some points you might like to include in your email:

  • The Premier has stated that we need to preserve every bit of green space that we can possibly get our hands on.
  • The blocks provide a buffer between the Regional Park and surrounding suburban development.
  • The Regional Park should have better entrance than a muddy track and a cyclone wire fence.
  • The land should be added to the Wolli Creek Regional Park for use by the whole community
  • Once it is sold, the bushland is lost for future generations.
  • People need green space as well as housing.
  • We can build more housing AND preserve green space.
  • Tell them why you value the Wolli Creek bushland, and how you use it
  • Tell him if it would influence your vote

At this stage, a barrage of emails from voters is our best chance to save this scarce and valuable green space.

Christopher Jordens

President WCPS

unwin street green space

HELP KEEP WOLLI BLUFF A GREEN SPACE

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Two blocks of bushland at the foot of Wolli Bluff at the Eastern end of the Regional Park have just been listed for sale by auction on 2 April.  You can view the ad here. 

WCPS has been campaigning with residents of Unwin Street, Earlwood, to retain green space between the Eastern entrance to the Regional Park and Waterworth Park, as seen in the sales photo above from mcgrath.com.au. Our plans include a “gateway” to the park that would make use of a few blocks of bushland, some contaminated and unsuitable for residential development. Our plans are supported by Canterbury Bankstown Council and the local member, Sophie Cotsis.

We accept that Sydney needs more housing, but this should not come at the cost of open green space. Premier Chris Minns said so himself in a media appearance at Turrella Reserve on 8 March 2024:

“If we’re going to build houses, particularly closer to the CBD, we need to preserve and protect as much green space as we possibly can. … We can’t just build houses; we have to build world class beautiful parks, and that means preserving every bit of green space that we can possibly get our hands on.”

Despite the encouraging words, these two blocks of bushland that could have formed an important part of the green corridor will be lost on 2 April, unless the sale can be stopped.

We’re asking members to write a brief email to the Premier asking that the sale of bushland adjacent to Wolli Bluff be immediately withdrawn.

You can email the Premier at ElectorateOffice.Kogarah@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Please copy your email to Sophie Cotsis at canterbury@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Also, please copy your email to your local member (if it’s not Chris Minns or Sophie Cotsis).

Here are some points you might like to include in your email:

  • The Premier has stated that we need to preserve every bit of green space that we can possibly get our hands on.
  • The blocks provide a buffer between the Regional Park and surrounding suburban development.
  • The Regional Park should have better entrance than a muddy track and a cyclone wire fence.
  • Once it is sold, the bushland is lost for future generations.
  • People need green space as well as housing.
  • We can build more housing AND preserve green space.

At this stage, a barrage of emails from voters is our best chance to save this scarce and valuable green space.

Christopher Jordens

President WCPS

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WTF Possum

Replacement Trees for Earlwood Shops

Wolli Possum was disconsolate to learn that Canterbury Bankstown Council plans to chop down 15 fig trees near Earlwood shops. But never fear! Council offered us a choice of replacement trees: Crepe Myrtles or natives? And if natives, then Tuckeroo or Ivory Curl?

Possums prefer natives of course, but why so few options when there are 15 trees? And why choose Tuckeroo? It’s not a local species, and it can spread to the Regional Park. Possum pointed this out to the Council in response to its Have Your Say feedback form.

Possum has since learned that the Council decided to replace all the figs with Tuckeroos. The news arrived as Possum was wading through the Council’s draft Urban Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan. This is a 55-page epic poem to biodiversity, promoting “Council’s responsibility to enhance our natural environment through conservation of biodiversity” (p. 6) and its intention to “incorporate locally indigenous species in plant schedules” (p. 34).

WTF?!

plan of proposed subdivision

Housing and Green Space – Local Test Case Near Stotts Reserve

NSW is facing a crisis in affordable housing. Increased densification of existing suburbs is promoted as a major part of the solution, though there are many other problems to be overcome to solve the crisis.

We have a prominent test case right now with a development application (DA) for the Salvation Army Training College site in Bexley North near Stotts Reserve, sitting on the ridge between the Wolli and Bardwell valleys. The DA proposal represents overdevelopment at its worst. On the plan below, the building envelopes are shaded in dark grey, filling almost each entire site. It is the antithesis of what the Premier has called for, swallowing up an important green space that helps link two important green corridors.

Salvos-site-proposal-Kingsland-Rd

As WCPS, we are concerned to ensure that green spaces in our existing suburbs are not adversely impacted by any drive to increase density. We have the Premier’s commitment that “we can’t just build houses [in these suburbs] we’ve got to build world-class beautiful parks” and for that “we need to preserve and protect as much green space as we possibly can” and “that means preserving every bit of green space the we can possibly get our hands on.”

Increased population actually means a need for increased green spaces for relaxation and recreation, not only for the retention of existing ones.

WCPS has lodged a lengthy objection to the DA. It joined 66 other individual submissions (as at May 31), overwhelmingly critical of the development. WCPS has put forward an alternative, shown in the banner map at top, which allows for some densification (in three areas outlined in white in Plan 2), but preserves the green space (outlined in yellow). We have also put the submission on Planning Alerts and sent it to local Councillors and MPs and to the Leader newspaper.

You can see the WCPS submission and all the others at https://eplanning.bayside.nsw.gov.au/ePlanning/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=444229, where the DA documents are also available.

Dirty sign 16-9

Graffiti Clean Up on Girrahween Track

Abi Curtis, our Treasurer, and her husband Mark took time out of their busy liv es to tackle graffiti and tagging that have appeared on the Girrahween Track and in Turrella Reserve. Abi said, “We don’t want the tagging to encourage more taggigng. We wanted to see what we could accomplish with a few old rags, some elbow grease and an assortment of solvents.  We took eucalyptus oil, metho and turps. Each worked for different paints. We had some joy with the signs, but found it much harder to scrub tags off the tree unfortunately.”  Good on you, Abi and Mark, job well done!

 

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WCPS supports a YES vote

YES aerialWolli Creek Preservation Society encourages Australians to give generous consideration to the case for a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum to recognise the First Nations people of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The following is our statement in support of a YES vote. Links to further information and resources follow.

We support a First Nations Voice to Parliament

The Wolli Creek Preservation Society aims to ensure the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Wolli Creek Valley. Wolli Creek flows through the cultural landscape of the Cadigal and Bidgigal clans, who are among the many first peoples of Australia who have cared for this country for more than 60,000 years.

Colonisation has threatened the wellbeing of both the land and its First Nations people. The evidence of this is compelling. Australia’s colonial history is also replete with failures to listen to and learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The upcoming referendum is an historic opportunity to make a modest but important change that will promote the self-determination of First Nations people. The Voice will allow First Nations people to offer advice to parliament on policies and decisions that affect their lives, including their health, education, employment, and housing.

To remain silent about this referendum would be to support an unacceptable status quo. To oppose the constitutional change would be to miss an historic opportunity to right some wrongs and extend the achievements of the 1967 referendum.

We acknowledge that for some, the Voice to Parliament does not go far enough. There are also those who seek to stoke uncertainty, fear, and division among Australians ahead of the referendum. However, the purpose of the Voice is clear. It will enable all Australians—and indeed the very land we share, and all the life it supports—to benefit from Indigenous cultural heritage and knowledge.

For these reasons, the Committee of the Wolli Creek Preservation Society supports a YES vote in the upcoming referendum. We encourage all Australians to get informed and to get involved. To this end, we provide a list of information and resources below.

Information and Resources

Yes 23 is a grassroots coalition led by Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition Ltd. The website has resources, information about the referendum, and provides opportunities to learn, volunteer and donate.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was born from a series of regional dialogues between First Nations people held across the country, culminating in a National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in 2017. The website explores the statement, the history, and the dialogues that underpin it, and provides a supporter kit which steps through how you can help spread the message of the Uluru Statement and encourage other Australians to accept the invitation.

Together, Yes invites people from all walks of life to gather in small group discussions and engage in an honest reckoning of the harm and injustice of our colonial past; Australia’s history of constitutional indifference, and how a Voice to parliament can make a difference.

Reconciliation Australia has a useful site on the Voice referendum with clear and concise information. One topic it explores is the nearly 100 years that First Nations people in Australia have been asking for a Voice.

This article in the Conversation answers ten frequent questions about the Voice, providing a great resource before talking with friends and family who may have unanswered questions.

Allies for Uluru provides tools and resources for talking to communities, including multicultural resources, social media assets and more.

Walking Together: Workshops and training developed by Youth Off The Streets’ trainers (First Nations and non-Indigenous) give people from all cultural backgrounds the tools they need to walk with First Nations Australians towards a fairer and more just Australia.

TEDX “The Uluru Statement From the Heart: An Idea who’s time has come“: This powerful talk by Dean Parkin is an absolute must-watch.

“Reckoning with Australia’s Settler Colonial History”: In this podcast from ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas, we hear from Aboriginal legal experts Megan Davis and Teela Reid, who believe a First Nations Voice to Parliament in the constitution is the necessary first step.

Download a pdf version of this statement.

 

OCU put on hold

There has been a dramatic development in relation to Sydney Water’s Proposed Odour Control Unit in the Wolli Creek Valley. After a frequently extended consultation period and further review, Sydney Water had narrowed the choice down to three options (see the February Wolli Creek Update) with the choice between the three to be further informed via a workshop with stakeholders on March 24.

But on 23 March we were informed that the workshop had been cancelled and the whole project ‘put on hold’ on technical grounds. New information means that an extra element will be needed at the OCU and the Unwin St sites are space constrained and probably can’t fit it in without a cost blow-out.

It also seems that without the delays occasioned by WCPS arguments, counterproposals, and questions, backed by the support of the 5,000 signatories on our petition, the OCU might have been built by now, only to be found ‘not fit for purpose’ with all sorts of costly consequences. Anyway, this is a sort of success, but one qualified by a recognition that the odour and corrosion problems the OCU was to solve still exist and that, in principle at least, the OCU has not completely gone away, but only put on hold for 6-8 months.

OCU Petition tops 5,000; now closing

We reached our 5,000th signature on Sunday 14/11.21. The petition will be taken down this week as we are about to enter a new phase of the OCU process. Our thanks go to all those who have signed to oppose the OCU location proposed by Sydney Water.

We promptly wrote to the Minister to report the 5,000 and pointed out that they are almost all of them Sydney Water customers. See the WCPS Letter to Pavey 211115 re the 5,000 signatures.

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