Gandhi inspires Aussies to save land for public park

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Apr 14 (PTI) Sydney is all set to honour
Mahatma Gandhi after a group of local citizens saved a piece
of land for a public park through a peaceful campaign, saying
they relied on his teachings to force the authorities to back
down from launching a commercial venture.

Inspired by Gandhi that propelled deputy Lord Mayor of
Sydney Marcelle Hoff to set a campaign to save a former Water
Police base site for public parkland.

"I truly, strongly believed in Mahatma Gandhi," Hoff
who finally won the fight for the site. She credits Gandhi
with influencing her group's approach "Search for the truth,
respect your opponents and the end must justify the means",
were the principles they relied on, along with a dose of
"psychological warfare".

The 1.6 hectare site was all set to be sold via a
99-year lease to allow the building of a 13-storey residential
complex.

Gandhi's name should be among those credited with
delivering the newest waterfront park to the people of Sydney
in the coming days 'Sydney Morning Herald' report said here.

It all started in June 2003 when she and friends first
began organising and it seemed they had little chance of
saving it.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority controlled the site
and wanted it sold for the residential tower. The authority's
promise of a community consultation process was dismissed as a
sham.

"The consultation process consisted of an
architectural design competition involving the construction of
a privately owned multi-storey development - the community was
never given the option of … public open space," Hoff said.

Her group wanted a park that would add another piece
to the harbour foreshore walk and would not block the winter
sun.

Rallies, meetings, and a green ban imposed by the
Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union forced the
authority to back down.

The well-heeled City of Sydney paid 11.8 million
Australian dollar for the site. The designed park will
includes boardwalks, maritime remnants and platforms which
emerge with falling tides.

There is a children's play area and a pavilion with a
cafe and a place for cultural events. A formal opening will be
held once the city council has worked out what it will be
called. PTI