Elizabeth and I both have daughters presently in Concord and have been visiting them over past weekends. It is obvious to us both that the mentally ill (and Carers) have been well and truly shafted by the state government’s closure of Callan Park.

The feedback coming from patients (and some nurses we have spoken to) is that the place is not conducive to healing as was Callan Park in that it has the feel of a prison (wards being all locked wards) (and what little outdoor space afforded is sorely inadequate, bare and without any shade at all from the burning sun. The patients are saying they really miss being able to move around the tranquil gardens of Callan Park and access local facilities. At Concord they feel as if they are being ‘locked away’ from everyone and everything and it’s making them feel crazier!

The “coffee shop” which might have been a place carers could take the people they visit (when allowed off-ward) is closed on weekends! There is one in the main hospital but patients want time away from ‘hospital’ environs. There are no pleasant other areas to stroll about in otherwise and the place is damn difficult to get to. Wards are hard to find entry to (many without ‘visitor’ signs on their doors e.g. Norton).

Admittedly it is early days in development and the wards themselves are better, but we all know Callan Park could have been refurbished/rebuilt.

There are no visitor sign-on books in any of the wards I have visited (Manning, Mackay and Norton) so there is no way of knowing how many carers are making the trek out there compared to Callan Park where many would bring food to share under the trees with those they were visiting. I certainly am visiting my daughter less, and for less time than I would have when she was at Callan Park (carers may consequently have less input!).

I for one am not impressed by the soul-less prison-like feel of Concord, and more, I am really ropeable that Callan Park, a true healing place gifted to the mentally ill of this State has been stolen from them and replaced with an ugly punitive environment - essential parts of a healing environment are now missing completely (e.g., nature and inclusiveness).

[names have been changed for privacy]

NSW Greens MP Sylvia Hale has introduced a Bill in the state Upper House to establish a community trust to manage Callan Park, the 60 hectares of parkland and heritage buildings in Sydney’s inner west.

Ms Hale won the agreement of the Upper House to suspend its normal business in order to allow her Bill to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

The introduction of the Bill will place enormous pressure on local Labor MP and Education Minister Verity Firth who has publicly supported the establishment of a trust. The big swing to the Greens in the recent Leichhardt Council elections will increase the pressure on the government to support the Greens’ Bill.

The Greens’ Bill also throws into question the future of the land use plan for the site being prepared by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
“Since the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act was passed in 2002 people from all sides of politics have publicly supported the establishment of a community trust to manage the Callan Park site. In the same way that community trusts have been established to administer Centennial, Moore and Parramatta Parks, Callan Park is recognised as an iconic public asset that should be administered by the community, on behalf of the community,” Ms Hale told the parliament.

“Green, Labor, Liberal and Independent councillors on Leichhardt Council voted unanimously in favour of the establishment of a Callan Park Trust. State politicians from Labor, Liberal, Greens and Christian Democrats have publicly supported a trust. Yet to date no move has been made to establish such a trust. It is time now to make that move, before it is too late.”

Ms Hale is critical of the government for giving the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority the responsibility for preparing a land use plan.

“SHFA’s objectives are mainly focussed on commercial returns to itself and the government. It’s not surprising therefore that SHFA should come up with a draft land use plan that has more to do with meeting its own commercial objectives than with meeting the objects of the Callan Park Act,” Ms Hale said.

“I was pleased to see that neither the Government nor the Opposition opposed the Bill being introduced into the parliament. Given the support across the political spectrum for a community trust for Callan Park I am hopeful that an agreement can be reached to quickly progress this Bill through the parliament.” Ms Hale said.

You can downlaod a copy of the Callan Park Trust Bill & a Hansard Transcript of Sylvia Hales’ speech by clicking on the links below.

Summary of the key provisions of the Callan Park trust bill (PDF)

Complete Callan Park Trust Bill 2008 (PDF)

Hansard Transcript, Callan Park Trust Bill. Sept. 25, 2008. (PDF)

Now that the new Planning Minister has been sworn in it’s time to thank all those supporters who have kept the pressure on and assisted in ending Frank Sartor’s disastrous period in the office.

The Friends of Callan Park would hope that the new Minster would have a more inclusive and open approach to dealing with the community. We would also call on Minister Kristina Keneally to take this opportunity to abandon this farcical Land (Ab)Use Plan and commit to a proper Master Plan with full and open community consultation as promised prior to the last state election.

Unfortunately as shown in this Tuesday’s story in the Sydney Morning Herald the new ministers and the Labor Party’s links to the developers appear to be just as strong as ever. You can read the full story in the Herald by following this link …. “Developers’ donations funnelled to candidates…”

The Friends of Callan Park encourage everyone to welcome the new Minister for Planning Kristina Keanelly by contacting her directly with your concerns and pushing for a better outcome for Callan Park.

While you’re at it why not copy your letter to our Local Member Verity Firth. You can find the new minister’s contact details here … Contact a politician