What’s this got to do with the NSW BLF?

Kelly’s Bush is the site of the world’s first Green Ban. This is the story of how it came about.

Three local residents, Kath Lehany, Betty James and Chris Dawson, had formed a well-organised group called the "Battlers for Kelly’s Bush", to try and stop a residential development proposal by A.V Jennings Ltd. The idea was to construct luxury townhouses on one of Sydney’s few remaining greenfield waterfront sites. The "Battlers" campaign to stop this development through all the usual channels like Hunters Hill Council, the State Planning Authority and Premier Bob Askin proved fruitless.

For some time the BLF had been publicly saying that the people erecting the buildings had a right to an opinion on issues relating to the building industry, its impact on the environment and the wider community. To quote, 'all work performed should be of a socially useful and of an ecologically benign nature'.

In the 40’s the Cumberland County Council, which oversaw most of the metropolitan area, had developed a plan for a series of green belts to surround Sydney’s inner area. Over time this plan was destroyed through the greed, corruption and sheer incompetence of various government authorities and development interests.

The battlers decided to challenge the BLF and its theories. The 11-member BLF executive sat down to discuss the issue. It was a spirited debate. Opinions ranged from "why should we help these middle class shits?" to "Kelly’s Bush should stay in public hands for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone."

The executive voted to impose a ban on the site subject to one condition. The battlers were asked to hold a public meeting and prove to the BLF that the request for a ban came from the community as a whole not just a few with selfish interests. The following union branch meeting endorsed the plan.

Over 600 residents attended the public meeting and the union was impressed with the group’s enthusiasm. A ban was declared on Kelly’s Bush. This ban was called a green ban, to distinguish it from a black ban.

The Premier Bob Askin condemned the action. Building industry representatives went into a state of apoplexy. Statements like" anarchy and the destruction of the democratic process" and "self appointed dictators" spewed from the Masters Builders Association. The newspapers accused the BLF of being "proletarian town planners" and "mere builders" labourers."

A.V.Jennings responded immediately and declared it would build on Kelly's Bush using non-union labour. BLF members working on a 20 storey office project for A.V.Jennings in North Sydney issued the following message: "If you attempt to build on Kelly's Bush, even if there is the loss of one tree, this half completed building will remain so forever, as a monument to Kelly's Bush." Jennings entered into negotiations with the residents and the relevant authorities. After a battle lasting over 10 years Kelly’s Bush is still there as an open public reserve.

The success at Hunters Hill led to an avalanche of requests from residents action groups in Sydney and beyond. By 1975 green bans were holding up around 40 developments worth more than $3 billion. Most people know about bans on Centennial Park, The Rocks, Sydney Opera House car park, Victoria Street, and Woolloomooloo. Less well-known green bans saved over 100 buildings considered by the National Trust to be worthy of preservation.

The BLF achieved all this despite death threats and bribes from developers and enormous political pressure. Eventually corrupt elements in the union movement itself destroyed the NSW BLF. That’s another story.

Extract from an ABC radio interview in 2002

Jack Mundey ‘I remember the chief of staff of the 'Sydney Morning Herald' telling me that when we put a ban on the three fig trees that were going to be knocked down in the Domain, that that attracted more letters in support of it than any other item that year. And so I think that gives you an indication that when the readership of the 'Sydney Morning Herald' are supporting a left-wing union, led by Marxists and communists, it shows you that we had something on our side. I guess the most gratifying thing is the fact that we were vilified in that period, and we've been well and truly vindicated. It was a great period, because it was a period when little people showed that they could do something against governments. And I think that's the great story there -- it is possible for people that haven't got personal riches to come together, and if they fight hard enough, can compel governments to change their way.

Sources

Green Bans, Red Union; Environmental Activism and the NSW BLF

Meredith Burgmann and Verity Burgmann (UNSW Press 1998)

Green Bans and Beyond

Jack Mundey (Angus and Robertson 1980)

-Simon