By Emma McDonald
SYDNEY — A Federal Airports Corporation discussion paper proposing to demolish the suburb of Sydenham because it will be severely affected by noise from the new Sydney airport third runway, "is just another case of jumping on people from a great height", says Marrickville councillor Bruce Welch.
More than 300 people crowded into St Peters Town Hall for a public meeting on January 19 to protest against the FAC plan. Cheryl Fitzpatrick, an organiser of the meeting, says she was "astounded" by the turnout, but disappointed no FAC representative attended. Jeanette McHugh, the federal member for Phillip, attended but said she was there only to listen and made no comment.
The meeting passed a resolution calling for:
- no compulsory acquisitions;
- soundproofing of premises at no cost to residents;
- the FAC to be required to purchase premises at unaffected value if owners want to sell;
- compensation for dispossessed tenants;
- retention of the airport curfew;
- an immediate start on construction of the new Badgerys Creek airport.
The day of the public meeting, the FAC made a pamphlet drop in Sydenham, stating "we do not want to take your homes".
Sydenham is one of the few remaining areas of cheap housing in the inner-city region, and home to many immigrants and lower income earners. Bruce Welch says this latest development in the long dispute over the third runway is just one more example of the Labor Party and the FAC "dumping on the people who have entrusted them with power".
The FAC plan, first revealed in the Sydney Morning Herald on January 16, acknowledges that noise pollution in Sydenham will increase by 111% when the new runway opens in mid-1995, and suggests taking over 525 premises, through either voluntary or compulsory acquisition, in order to rezone the area for airport-related industries.
Cheryl Fitzpatrick is angry with the FAC. "I think they are worried we found out earlier than they intended", she says. "When were they going to tell us? At the last possible moment, when we would not be able to fight?"
A coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch as well as the local Residents' many people are fed up with the FAC and no longer believe what they say. "First they tell us that we will not be affected by the third runway, and now that they have begun building it we know in actual fact Sydenham will be the suburb worst affected." She says local property values have already dropped by around $30,000 since the Herald article.
Established around 1860, Sydenham is a close-knit community with a number of families who have been in the area for several generations. The old people are particularly worried by the latest development, says Fitzpatrick.
She believes Sydenham is being sacrificed because it's not a rich suburb. "It is people and families that these political decisions are affecting, but the government can only see money and capital gain."
A Green councillor, Bruce Welch says the Labor Party is not concerned for the residents of Sydenham. He thinks a committee set up by the public forum was "hijacked by the Labor Party" and will not represent local residents.
Cheryl Fitzpatrick and Marrickville mayor Barry Cotter are now seeking a meeting with the FAC, and if they don't get one, Cheryl Fitzgerald says she'll organise another meeting and a march. "We are not moving out", she says.