Directions Welcome to the winter edition of In this issue we catch up with Jack vital role in representing the views Parklands. Mundey and Neville Wran to talk of the community and bringing them to the attention of the Trust. June 2002 represents a very about these turbulent times and how the Green Bans helped save poignant time in Centennial The Trust has conducted extensive Parklands' history. It was 30 years not just Centennial Park, but many community consultations in the ago on June 18,1972, when other urban open spaces in and last year which has resulted in thousands of local residents and around Sydney from development. many positive changes across a supporters of Centennial Parldands Community and history also form range of issues - transpott and gathered in Centennial Park and the theme of an outstanding new access, a new dog policy, then marched to Sydney Town Hall photographic exhibition at the Moore Park South and the to protest against a proposal to Superintendent's Residence. development of our Conservation Peter Duncan develop a massive sporting Management Plan. complex. The complex, to stretch It's called Changes 19Yll - 21Wll Director, The Trust is keen to continue to Centennial Parklands Over 4 hectares of Parklands, South wney-A Retrospective was to be built in a tentative bid and depicts the process of change focus on Park improvements. In for the Olympic Games in Sydney in South Sydney over the last recent months, the Parklands has in 1988. 100 years. been working on preparing our Park Improvement Program to Local resident action groups were The Trust is thrilled to welcome present to Treasury. Outcomes will up in arms about the proposal and our new chair, Professor John be announced by Government in joined forces with the Builders Niland AC who took up his new June with highlights featured in Labourers Federation, led by Jack role in March. He replaces Annette the Spring edition of Parklands. Mundey, which, with the support O'Neill who I'd like to thank for her Visitors can look forward to of the rank and file of his union, outstanding contribution during improvements to amenities, . imposed a 'green ban' on the Park her chairmanship. information and visitor services. "to stop it from being developed. We are also excited to have two We are also about to launch the If it weren't for the courageous new Trustees on board. We next stage of our Ponds efforts of this union and the welcome Margaret Varady and Jill Restoration Program. passionate community support led Anderson, who has also taken up We hope you enjoy this edition by the likes of author Patrick the role of Chair of our Community and we look forward to seeing White, former NSW Premier, Consultative Committee. you in the Parklands over the Neville Wran, among other winter months.- I prominent supporters, we wouldn't As the TWSprimary advisory have the Park as i! today. body, the CCC continues to play a Parkbench 8 people of the Park 12 Friends Twitcher's corner 4 It's not easy being green Flora fun in the Parklands Award for bus interchange 13 Calling all runners Premier appoints new 6 Trust chair A day in the life of.. A Big Arvo for Suzuki Parklands Magazine is published quarterly by the Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust 10 Parks - $;,",s!tainable - Locked Bag 15, Paddington NSW 2021. Sharing my affections Winter Calendar Centennial Parklands is managed by the Dual hats for CCC chair 14 Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust. Postcard from the Special recipe Mountain to^ Editor: Kerry Wren 7 Step back in time Assistant Editor: Nichola Clark ' New playground at Cafe 11 Restoring our ponds 16 Users Guide Contributor: Dee Wren email: [email protected] Design: lmagepoint Creative Solutions Photography: Ian Lever Printed on recycled paper Cover: Taking in the tranquillity of winter in the Parklands. Centennial Parklands is home to some small areas of bushland For more information on the Plans containing Eastern Suburbs These are among the reasons phone (02) 9339 6699. Banksii Scrub (ESBS). The scrub Yvette PWh, Ryan Fahy and James Hanison haw, joined the Community Consultative Committee. The enthusiastic trio, a# nearby resklentsofthe-,-up . - their qqmWmWs in March under the~tpofnewqceteded Pws I PRINT chair,JB-~(seepaoe6 FdlaPliRg18~ofpuMIc for story). Yvette, aTax and Business Service ~artnerat Young ~arrwdal~ ParWm and the Chartered Accountants, is SouthMaster~have honoured to take up the chaHenge. approved by the Trust "I hopemyinput can makethe Park more enjoyable to everyone whovi*ir,shesays.'Mafso like to Wp make peopb more efnAmmenta#y aware that the Parkismuchmanrthan~a playground but an important sanduaryin~dty". **mwants&goend whSit*lonrtn~wudo." .mmk,atormplanr## entennial Parklands dery much community driven and celebrates a significant ecalagical and other issues of the kdto satisfy the BLF criteria that broader aommunity. he wtder public would be the real mnefators. This was first I It was thirty years ago that a 'green illustrated in the saving of Keily's ban' was placed on the Park\aRds - historic R* district, $e Domain, much of Victoria Street in Morning Herald tdd me at the _ murmqrs of dissent soon grew of Centennbl Parkfands. Without fighting.fp!*a wider visiq $an just time that in ,972, the two issues into a cacophony of protest. this move, today the Parklands 'lackbans- I think that generated more letters than would be a mere shadow of itself. the turning point that attracted so Among those opposing the any otMr items that Were the many people to what the BLF green bans on Centennial Park and development were the likes of For Mundey, the BLF action was t T m author Patrick White, Neville Wran, more than just being about on three fig trees'ln the Domain . an emerging politician who went supporting better wages and Mundey stressed that gkban that were under threat", Mundey on to become Premier of NSW, conditions for its members, but action was not polil, but was . @Id P4t@nds magazine recently. r 5 These tranquil settings an mjoycd by millions of visitors thanks to the gmn bans. 7hc proposed sporting wmploc was to be built in Moon Park, spilling aavss Lang Road into Centennial Park's soul uut wmer. "So I think that gives you an eventually saw the demise of the legislation. At the sarne time, the The greater the city, the greater the indication what when the proposal", he said. Labor Government acknowledged necessity." readership of the SMH are that it was the green bans that supporting a left-wing union, it "We should all be grateful for Jack prompted this legislation. This is more essential in Australia, shows you that we had something Mundey and his colleagues who which despite its vastness, is one implemented the green bans and "The fact that 30 years on. on our side. I guess the most of the most urbanised nations in who lifted the consciousness to Centennial Parklakls is kll here ,.:-,< . gratifying thing is despite the fact the waM. F~ . along with The Rocks, .. .. that we were vilified then, we have fight and preserve our heritage and environment". Wodloomooloo and so on is been well and truly vindicated with testimony to the strength of the the passage of time. The green bans played a major Jodr Mnndey ploycd a m'al mk in saving movement and that the union was in rkc role in the Wran Government's M+,,, "It was a great time, because it incorruptible. cmfy 1970s. was a period when little people environmental and heritage policies in later years. "It's enormously rewarding to could come together, and if they know that millions of people fought hard enough, could compel Today, Neville Wran is still an avid use and love the park all governments to change their way. user of the Parklands. the time." The green bans were the birth of "I come here several mornings a Parks areand must be, urban environmentalism, just as the important as nature conservation". week and walk around outside people places. As an perimeter of Centennial Park", he earlier issue of Parklands Neville Wran also reminisced said. 'I never cease to marvel at rnagatine highlighted; about the 1972 campaign to save how wonderful It is and how "A great city deserves a Centennial Park, in a recent fortunate we are to have such a great park. It needs a green intenriew with t?wwnds magazine. jewel in the middle of our city. breathing space that is both a healthy lung . "During this period I was in the 'Centennial Park went perilously .Y and a pulsing Legislathm Council but the to being destroyed. The close heert. environment was not a high development emrisaged would priolny at the political level", he have left the park a massive said. 'However, Iprided myself in sporting complex rather than a perceMng that the environment place of passhre recreation." was a growing issue of concern and one which polfflcians couM The green ban movement came to end in 1974 due to political ignore at their peril". an strife within the union. But today In the height of the campaign in Mundey has no regrets. He said 1972, Wran spoke at a 3000- his ideals today remain the sarne strong rally and puMk meeting as they did in these volatile years opposing the Parklands oftheearly1970s.HestiWwants development. Patrick White and urban environments that are cared Jack Mundey were also among the for, liible and sustainable. keynote speakers. We set triggers of change to "This was a real turning point legislation. In 1977/78 the Wran for the campaign whkh Government introduced heritage -.