IT MAY one day be known as the university that ate Sydney.
The University of Sydney has swallowed half of Darlington and is set to take Callan Park, and now a capital development masterplan for the next 12 years reveals it also has designs on North Eveleigh and Harold Park.
You can read the rest of the article on Sydney University’s massive development plans here… SMH, June 23, 2008
The Friends of callan Park have written an open letter to our Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd applauding his intention to reduce homelessness and tackle the cause of this ‘national shame’ as the Government’s recent Green Paper rightly calls it.
We call on Prime Minister Rudd to re-open Rozelle Psychiatric Hospital in Callan Park as a national centre for mental health and wellness.
You can get involved in this campaign too. Download and sign a copy of this letter by clicking on the link below or go directly to Kevin Rudd’s web site and send him an email.
Also don’t forget to go to the ‘Take Action’ page and see what else you can do.
Below is the start of an open letter from the Friends of Callan Park to Verity Firth, MP for Balmain. You can read the complete letter by clicking here… Letter to Verity Firth
Dear Verity Firth,
You have supported the closing of Rozelle Psychiatric Hospital despite the appalling crisis in mental health that is exposed almost every day in the media. Nurses at the Prince of Wales hospital, for instance, have had to take industrial action recently to draw attention to the inadequate number of beds for mental health patients. This was happening a fortnight after the closing of the Rozelle hospital with its 210 beds (the smaller and relatively inaccessible Concord mental health wing is scarcely an adequate replacement).
And you have supported the hospital’s closure despite the fact that the majority of your electors oppose this - surveys commissioned by Leichhardt Council show over 70% support the retention of Rozelle hospital in Callan Park.
Which Way Home? A New Approach to Homelessness, Australian Green Paper on Homelessness, May 2008
Jean Lennane attended the federal government’s Sydney forum on homelessness on June 11 and received strong support when she pointed to the link between homelessness and mental illnesss and called for the re-opening of the hospital at Callan Park.
The ‘Consultation forum’ on the Australian Government’s “New Approach to Homelessness” which was on in Sydney today, Wednesday 11th June, was one of a total of twelve such meetings all around Australia, starting with one in Perth on 28th May, and to finish in Albury-Wodonga on 20th June.
Sydney’s meeting had over 200 people present, all of whom would have had to register beforehand. A large number of them said they work with homeless facilities. One homeless woman however pointed out that she was probably the only homeless person there, as there had been no attempt to notify them and help them to come.
The main chairperson was the head of NSW’s Housing Department; and the Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek (a local federal MP) gave a speech in which she mentioned that she’d been at most of the other meetings, including one at Brisbane on 10th June.
There was a heavy supply of papers with information, including a 100-page booklet “Which Way Home? A new Approach to Homelessness”, which on page 27 mentioned mental illness as a homelessness factor, including that
“In a study which sampled people experiencing homelessness in inner Sydney, up to 75% of those aged 18 years and over were found to have a mental health concern …. the prevalence of mental disorder is four times higher among homeless men and women than in the general population.”
However despite this, there seems to have been no official suggestion that action should be taken to prevent State governments, especially NSW, from constantly cutting mental health services, thus adding to homelessness.
Most of the two-hour meeting was given to its attenders to make comments, which I managed to do early on. I spoke about the recent closure of the hospital at Callan Park, and the urgent need for the Federal Government to re-establish it there, like the similar situation of Walston Park in Queensland, and to intervene to prevent the constant closure of services. I also mentioned the concern that I’ve had expressed to me by several magistrates over the years, that when they are involved in cases, usually of repeated minor offences, when the accused is obviously mentally ill, that when they try to have the accused admitted to a psychiatric hospital, that is often refused because of the lack of beds; and the magistrate then feels compelled to sentence them to jail, because it’s the only way to be sure they’ll have a roof over their heads, and regular meals.
I also mentioned the ongoing problem with NSW Department of Housing, which keeps selling its properties, notably the 140 apartments at Mort Bay in Birchgrove sold in 2002-2003; and also smaller lots all around Sydney’s inner west, despite the intense need for them. I suggested the Federal Government should also take action to prevent this constant adding to the homelessness problem.
FOOTNOTE: The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority recently admitted that homeless people are trying to settle into Callan Park. When discovered SHFA passes them onto NSW Health. How much better to re-open the hospital to provide residential treatment, education and training.
Last weeks Leichhardt Council meeting saw Councilors defer a motion that would have approved an in principle arrangement with the University of Sydney carving up the grounds of Callan Park.
The agreement would have granted the university sole control of and major access to much needed sporting grounds as well as send them and Minister Sartor a clear signal that the Council was ready to give up on its support for Callan Park against community wishes.
This potentially divisive agreement also runs against a whole range of previous Council resolutions - not the least of which is that Callan Park should remain as one complete site and that the psychiatric hospital should be retained and upgraded..
The negotiations are even more surprising in that they go against council’s principles of open and transparent governance and rejection of the current Land Use Plan.
Council has previously resolved, with great support from the community, that any decisions on the future planning of Callan Park should be part of an open, transparent, and consultative master plan, not the result of side deals with the university.
The resolution will again be up for debate at the next Council Meeting on June 24 at 7pm at Leichhardt Town Hall.
You can view a draft of the Council resolution below as well as a list of all previous Council resolutions with regard to Callan Park.
You can also click on the link below to email all Leichhardt Councillors and let them know you oppose the passing of this resolution.
Friends say talks weaken Callan Park stance - Leichhardt Council talks cause community concerns -Village Voice - June 2008 (Jpeg 283k, also available on ‘Reference’ page)
Leichhardt Council Report -F99/00001-17 20 May, 2008 (PDF 216k)
In responding to Friends of Callan Park’s Freedom of Information request for details of the university’s negotiations with the state government over Callan Park, the University of Sydney has hidden behind the usual exemptions available under the Act.
Over 95% of the relevant documents have been rejected as ‘Cabinet in confidence’ or ‘not in the public interest’ or ‘confidential to the university’s internal workings’.
This behaviour is scarcely befitting an institution supposedly committed to the free flow of information and open, informed debate.
Nevertheless there are some important revelations in the letter from the Registrar and the handful of documents released:
These revelations confirm the validity of the community’s continued opposition to the Frank Sartor/University of Sydney deal to take over Callan Park.
You can access and read all the documents provided by the university on our reference page.
Verity Firth also has regular open days and invites everyone to meet with her and raise issues of concern and importance.
Why not visit Verity and voice your opposition to the Callan Park Land Use Plan and the closure of the Rozelle Psychiatric Hospital.
You can view upcoming date for Verity’s mobile office by clicking here…
Despite the overcast weather and occasional drops of rain the community came out to celebrate a magical
moment together in Callan Park.
From newborns to grandparents they came, Mr Bear cuddled their little bears and danced and sang with the children, The Bubble man made balloon art and entranced with a trail of bubbles, the Swish Dudes serenaded and Don Mori and his band played their saxophones to create a rare and completely free day for the parents and children of the area.
The Friends of Callan Park were there to answer questions and provide information for those who wished to know more.
For more picture of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic Click on the link below.
The Prime Minister has announced the release of the Government Green Paper ‘Which way home? A new approach to homelessness.’
This Green Paper aims to promote public discussion on homelessness, highlight the challenges faced by people who are homeless and suggest ways forward.It is estimated that over 40 per cent of acute mental health inpatients could be discharged if appropriate accommodation, care and support services were available.
The report makes the following statements. ‘It is estimated that the average recurrent cost of providing a unit of public housing is $5,990 per year (2006-07 figure) compared with the average recurrent cost of providing one mental health hospital bed at $150,000 per year (2002-03 figure), or prison bed at $65,000 per year (2005-06 figure).’
‘With better integration of community-based clinical care and supported accommodation, the frequency of hospitalisation can also be reduced - currently 15 to 20 per cent of people with mental illness and at risk of homelessness will be re-admitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge.’
‘Recent demand pressures on acute inpatient units have highlighted the lack of bed-based treatment and rehabilitation options for people with serious and persistent conditions requiring specialist care, but who do not need the intensity of treatment provided in acute hospital units. Lack of development of such services by most jurisdictions remains a significant issue in relation to the commitment by all states and territories to develop a full range of community services to replace the historical functions of the stand-alone psychiatric hospitals.’
Public consultations are being held over the next four weeks in each of the capital cities and some regional centres. You can also make a submission. Timetables and contact details can be found on the Government website link below where you can also download a full copy of the report.