I did get my letter I sent to The Age yesterday published :-), so I’ve reproduced it below, along with another:
Our right to protest
Jason Dowling (Comment & Debate, 20/2) says Port Phillip Council “succumbed to strong opposition” to the proposed skate park in Albert Park Reserve, and “has withdrawn the planning permit”. Another interpretation would be that many previous councillors were thrown out at the November elections in favour of candidates who specifically campaigned to save this particular area of parkland from inappropriate development.
It is easy to attribute planning outcomes to ill-defined terms such as NIMBYism, or people power, depending on which side of the issue you stand. I doubt such simplistic labels really help the planning debate.
The elephant in the room that the article fails to mention is climate change, and that more people are now prepared to stand up and be counted to save Melbourne’s precious areas of public green space.
The Age has played a strong role in raising community awareness on the importance of saving our parks. The protection of public parkland deserves to be recognised as a legitimate planning concern.
– Jonathan Raymond, St Kilda
NIMBY and proud
Many residents are “NIMBYs” because virtually all contemporary developments seem to consist of enormous ugly houses that fill up a whole block, leave no room for vegetation and loom intrusively over other houses.
Once-pleasant leafy suburbs are turning into high-density concreted wastelands, thanks to selfish and greedy developers, councils, the residents who choose such designs, and a State Government determined to encourage unsustainable population growth.
Residents who care for Melbourne’s future liveability will continue to object to this uglification and the erosion of much-needed open spaces.
– Suzanne McHale
