Sydney Labor sneaking things out

You have to be suspicious when the Sydney Labor Government releases major things of public interest just before Christmas.

What have they got to hide?

First there is the Newcastle City Centre Plan, a 4 volume document to over-ride Newcastle's existing development controls. You guessed it - it's all about property development - bigger buildings and more of them - Chatswood comes to the West End.

Yes, of course, there's a sweetener in there - volume 4 (the thinnest volume at 30 pages, including full page colour graphics!) is a Civic Improvement Plan, with major works for civic and cultural facilities, public domain and transport, refurbishment of the mall (long overdue!), planting of street trees and improvements to the public domain in the Honeysuckle area.

The Newcastle City Centre Plan is on exhibition until the 28th February 2007. Don't expect it to be finalised before the State Election - more likely to be finalised in May or June. And remember the dramatic changes from the draft Lower Hunter Regional Strategy to the final document after Frank Sartor did his infamous deals with several large landowners (50% higher population, doubling of the bush cleared etc). Not a good track record.

And one more thing...

The Sydney Morning Herald website shows a story that has just come online about the Sydney Labor Government inviting tenders for the controversial desalination plant. But trust me, says Minister Campbell, "the move does not mean the project will go ahead". Have you told the tenderers that?

Watch out for more to be slipped out by Sydney Labor just before Christmas...