Rozelle parkland underfunded by $15 million

Monday 7 November 2022

Premier Perrottet’s announcement today about the design of the long-promised Rozelle Parklands failed to provide the additional $15 million needed to build the park.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says the decision to short-change the project followed a pattern of chronic underfunding of the Inner West by the State Government.

“The Premier was specifically asked today if there would be any more money for the project and the answer was a slap in the face for the people of the Inner West,” Mr Byrne said.

“Our engineers have costed this project at about $30 million and the State Government is providing just $15 million, leaving the residents of the Inner West with a substandard park.

“It’s all very well for the State Government to provide glossy pictures of the proposal, but they still haven’t actually funded it.

“They promised a new public park at St Peters WestConnex Interchange as well. That park has never actually opened to the public and is dangerously contaminated.

“Now they are short-changing the Rozelle community too.

“We were rorted out of millions of dollars due to the Government’s Council grants slush fund in which 95 per cent of grants were funneled to Coalition seats.

“We are the only Council between the CBD and the Blue Mountains to have been prevented from applying for grants from the proceeds of the sale of WestConnex.

“And this year the Government can find $300 million for a stadium in Stuart Ayres’ marginal seat of Penrith but not a cent for Leichhardt Oval.”

He said there was a clear pattern of financially discriminating against the Inner West for which the Government stands condemned.

ENDS

For further information please contact Michael Gleeson on 9392 5440.