No closure for Callan Park’s campaigners
By Ashlee Betteridge discussions with SHFA indicated
The Callan Park fight will continue
despite the closure of Rozelle
Hospital, according to activists and
Leichhardt councillors.
But while they may be united
in their battle against Planning
Minister Frank Sartor and the
draft land use plan currently be-
ing considered by his department
and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore
Authority (SHFA), the immediate
priorities of council and the Friends
of Callan Park vary.
Leichhardt Mayor Carolyn Allen
said that the immediate priority for
council was to negotiate control of
the sporting fields at the site.
Cr Allen said that council would
still advocate for mental health serv-
ices to be retained.
“If they were going to put up
greater mental health facilities
there, they would have to upgrade
the building to have better facilities,”
Cr Allen said.
Cr Allen said that recent council
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14 Village Voice Balmain May
that “there was still a lot of work to
be done” on the land use plan.
“It sounded like it would still be
quite some time before we know ex-
actly what is happening,” she said.
Hall Greenland, president of
Friends of Callan Park, said that the
group would be fighting for the hos-
pital to remain, despite the doors
now being closed.
“We are going to continue to
lobby for the reopening of the hos-
pital. We will do that with both the
Federal and State governments,” Mr
Greenland said.
“We haven’t given up hope that
Callan Park will remain as a place Rozelle Hospital closed on April 30, however community groups will continue
for mental health,” he said. to lobby for mental health services and open space in Callan Park
“If the Rudd Government is se-
rious about doing something about Dr Jean Lennane, psychiatrist need to intervene,” Dr Lennane said.
homelessness, they will also have to and member of Friends of Callan Control of the Rozelle Hospital
do something about mental health. Park, said that the campaign to im- site will now be transferred from
“We also want to maintain the prove mental health services would NSW Health to SHFA.
site as open community space and continue. A spokesman from SHFA said
will fight any proposal that threat- “We are making representations to that “the exact timing for the trans-
ens that.” the Rudd Government to say that they fer is still being discussed”.
Understanding Property
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