Another unanimous vote from Council!

At the City of Sydney Council meeting on 18 September Council unanimously passed the following resolution:

“Purchase of Crown Land in Forest Lodge

That Council:

(A) note that the owners of the adjacent apartment block have used and maintained this Crown land in Alfred Road under a “Permissive Occupancy” arrangement for over 20 years;

(B) note that the Director General of the Department of Lands has confirmed that the existing occupancy arrangements will continue while the Department of Lands considers its options;

(C) note that the upcoming State Election provides an ideal opportunity to lobby the State Government to continue to preserve this Crown land in public ownership;

(D) confirm its opposition to sale of public land until a comprehensive, transparent and open assessment process has explored all available options, with priority given to preserving Crown land in public ownership;

(E) Council seek an independent valuation of the land based on the potential outcomes of the use of the site."

Councillor Verity Firth had started the process by placing a Notice of Motion on the meeting agenda, following receipt of a letter from the Director General of the Department of Lands to the CEO of Council regarding options for the Crown land. At the meeting, Councillor Hoff proposed an amendment to the Motion, to which Councillor Kemmis and the Lord Mayor both spoke in support. Councillor Kemmis noted a statement in the Director General’s letter that the Department of Lands is still considering options for the site. With a further amendment proposed by Councillor Firth, all Councillors voted to pass the amended Motion.