In 2000, on behalf of the RPPG, I established contact with the Friends of Callan Park NSW over threats to Callan Park. This was a parallel to the Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital; Callan Park has 47 (?) hectares of parkland (Royal Park 20 hectares), both have heritage buildings on the site; Callan Park has prime real estate land on Sydney Harbour (Royal Park prime real estate in Parkville), loss of Callan Park posed potential threat to sitting member Sandra Nori in the Port Jackson electorate (loss of Royal Park nearly unseated Bronwyn Pike in Melbourne electorate); both are Koori traditional land; both have been threatened by residential developments of 1,000 units. (Callan Park has been saved, Royal Park lost).

Through the Friends of Callan Park, RPPG kept track of the formation of the Protectors of Public Lands in NSW. It was formed in 2001 and is a coalition of local councils, community and peak environment groups. PPL NSW was initially hosted by Leichardt Council and is now hosted by the National Trust of NSW. PPL is on the National Trust website.

On 8 September 2002 RPPG held a Rally on Royal Park Hospital site with Greens representative, Ian Cohen MLC in NSW Parliament, as guest speaker. He spoke on PPL NSW and the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (NSW). This and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (Commonwealth) were passed as a direct result of PPL members – Friends of Callan Park and Defenders of Sydney Harbour Foreshores.

The saving of Callan Park and the action of PPL NSW was also mentioned at the 24 November 2002 Greens Rally "Picnic in the Park with Bob Brown" organised by RPPG funded by the Greens. This was held at the Royal Park Hospital site.

RPPG has had ongoing contact with Phil Jenkyn Executive Committee member of PPL NSW re developments with PPL NSW.

On 2 November RPPG launched the PPL Victoria at a rally at the gates of the Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. Kenneth Davidson of the Age was the guest speaker and a range of community, parks and environment groups attended (Birds Australia, Friends of Footscray Pool, Friends of Peters Reserve (Northcote), Friends of the Earth (FOE), Greens Australia, Kew Cottages Coalition, Nunawading Park and Wildlife Action Group, Save Albert Park, Save Our Suburbs, R.A.I.D.Brunswick, Victorian National Parks Association and Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council). A resolution concerning the objectives for PPL (see below) and for adoption of the slogan "Keep Public Lands in Public Hands" was passed.

The Age has recently published a number of articles on PPL Victoria. These were "Land Under Pressure" and "On the ground where Victoria’s wars are fought" in the Sunday Age of 28 December 2003. Also "If the Government won’t save our valuable public spaces perhaps people power will" by Kenneth Davidson in the Age of 22 December 2003.

In the first week of January Save Brunswick Gym (a PPL supporter) had a success – Health Minister announced that the Bracks Government had backed off from demolition and so saved the Gym.

On 12 January 2004 PPL supporters attended the RPPG picket and protest at the Royal Park Games Village site when construction started and held off trucks for one day, with excellent media coverage.

On 16 January 2004 Maire Sheehan NSW PPL Convenor and the Mayor of Leichardt sent best wishes for the first PPL meeting and advised that if Victorian representatives would like to meet NSW Executive in Sydney this can be arranged. She said that she could possibly attend the PPL Victoria forum in February. Ms Sheehan advised that legislation is being prepared in NSW to save two controversial sites - the Australian Defence Industries site and the Quarantine Station site. Also general legislation to protect public lands is being prepared. The NSW Auditor General has apparently written a report, which criticises the way the Government has disposed of public land saying it is ad hoc and haphazard and the value of the land to the public need to be properly assessed.

Julianne Bell

Convenor, Royal Park Protection Group

17 January 2004