Update Wednesday
Police were called to a community information session on the Bardwell Park and Turrella priority precinct “to help encourage people to go home”.
This was revealed by the Department of Planning and Environment, which organised the event (see story below).
A spokeswoman for the department said more than 450 people turned up to the drop-in session on Monday night.
“These precincts are part of the housing affordability package announced by the government in June,” she said.
“The session was set up to give locals an opportunity to share their views, register for information updates from the department and give their feedback by filling out a survey.
“It was also in response to previous feedback that community weren't being consulted early enough in new planning processes.
“Despite best efforts there were a number of groups that were vocal and caused disruption to the session.
“Despite this, planning staff continued to liaise and listen to locals who had legitimate questions and comments.
“Some staff members were concerned by the behaviour of a few members of the public and the police were called by a staff member to help encourage people to go home when the event was finishing up.
“The safety of Department staff is our priority.”
Tuesday story
Police attended an information session on the Bardwell Park and Turrella precincts at Earlwood on Monday evening.
More than 300 people attended the session, many of them expressing frustration and, in some cases, anger over proposals to increase housing density in the area.
Wolli Creek Preservation Society Treasurer Peter Stevens said police attendance was totally unnecessary.
“People were angry, but there was no sign of anything violent,” he said.
The Leader has asked the Department of Planning and Environment, which organised the event, why police were present.
Mr Stevens said police told one resident they were called to the event.
However, a department officer had told another resident the police were “passing by”, and called in.
“It’s hard to believe that two police cars and a paddy wagon were passing by,” Mr Stevens said.
Mr Stevens said, from observations at the meeting and comments on social media, an overwhelming number of those who attended were opposed to the plans.
Reactions had ranged from “being cross to being really irate at what was happening, both in terms of the process and the proposal”.
The GreaterSydney.Community website moderator posted: “Last night's consultation session about the proposed Turrella & Bardwell Park 'Priority Precincts' definitely proved more controversial than expected. With 6 Police Officers arriving apparently in response to concerns about the behaviour of some individuals, many were mistified why this was necessary. Instead what was obvious was the crowd size, with an estimated 500 people attending.”
Photos posted by the moderator of the the Wolli Creek Valley Facebook page were accompanied by a summary of the event, reading:
“Local residents at Rockdale Town Hall tonight looking for answers about proposed developments. We got to fill out questionnaires on how we feel about our neighbourhood but with NO opportunity to express how we feel about the threatened high rise developments. At least we could slap some post its on the wall.”
Posts by residents included:
- Set up as an information drop-in session, most of those who took the time to attend tonight were frustrated by the extreme lack of information from the department representatives, because there is NO information to be conveyed and this priority precinct is a thought bubble handed down from the ministers desk. The first the department of planning knew of the Turrella Bardwell Park precinct was when it was announced on 1 June by the minister....
- The amount of people they had there to answer questions and take on our concerns was woeful.
- It was in the same vein as the Westconnex ones. Boards placed strategically around the room with a map then some kind of rep at each one to talk too. They were inundated! And I heard all the reps were not that good. The lady I found to speak to speak too is a planner and on the team. She was quite good but admitted she hasn't been to Bardwell park but others in the team had. Seemed suprised when the flooding of the creek and station was raised.