Tradies ‘hell bent on profit’

Firstly, this is not a 'precinct' no matter how many times it maybe referred to as such. 

It is a residential area, with the only exception being Tradies and the Gymea Bowling Club. 

While one is content to exist as is, the other organisation has embarked on an aggressive expansion plan to the detriment of the local residents.

Mr McAleer has indicated that "some of the stuff that's is going on out there is just distorted beyond belief". 

So lets us clear some things up. 

According to your article Mr McAleer has stated that only "about a dozen residents have objected to these plans".  

Yet more than 300 people have signed a petition opposing the DAs. And 48 people attended the council information evening to here details of the development. 

According to council this was a large turnout for any DA. 

When Tradies were first asked about this DA it was explained that it was for affordable housing.  There was no mention of a boarding house.  

When confronted with this discrepancy, McAleer claimed he had not read the DA and didn't know what was in it. The Tradies web site also neglected to expose this boarding house until a persistent resident made Tradies correct it.

Mr McAleer has also stated he could not understand why "key workers" would be referred to as "transient".  

Again, according to the legislation under which Tradies is endeavouring to push this development into the area, these "key workers" can only occupy these 16 boarding house room for between 2 and 6 months only. 

Of course that is if the conditions are enforced.  

The Council has already noted that this requirement for "key workers" in the boarding house is not a formal requirement of the SEPP and was difficult to enforce.

Mr McAleer has said that each unit would have a "kitchen". Well he may call it a kitchen, but it is a sink and a place for a microwave.  There is a common room with one stove for these 16 rooms. Is this more misinformation! 

So while each room will only have a microwave, there will be a covered walkway across to Tradies. And there will be an alcohol ban on the boarding house area during certain times, why? 

Why not provide full kitchens for these junior "key workers"? 

It would be far cheaper for then to cook for themselves instead of being encouraged to go to the Tradies dinning room.  And surely as junior "key workers" it would be expected that they would be working shift work. 

But there are very limited car spaces, in fact the State Government require only 0.4 spaces per unit something the council cannot prevent.

If these developments proceed the local residential area has been destroyed forever. However, the affordable housing can be placed on the open market and sold as normal unit after 10 years.

Tradies is acting just like a developer. It makes great claims about their $500,000 donations to local organisations form their $9 million profit.  

They are very quiet after buying two homes for $3.5 million with members funds just claim that "There are no plans for the properties whatsoever".  

Tradies act like a developer, buy properties like a developer, they build like a developer and they make profit like a developer. Surely they are a developer in all but name.

If Mr McAleer wishes to develop a "precinct", why not expand Tradies at Caringbah already in a commercial/business area.

If he wishes to assist "key workers", why not create scholarships to cover accommodation costs for junior workers.

Or support the various Unions in a campaign to have subsidised housing for "key workers". Is it because Tradies Ltd. is nothing more than an organisation hell bent on profit.

Paul Stewart, Gymea

, Gymea