Update from the Toronto Foreshore Protection Group (TFPG)

Community awareness of and concern over Council’s plans to commercially develop the northern end of the Toronto foreshore at Bath Street (adjacent to the RMYC) continues to grow strongly. To recap, Council voted on 23 April to proceed with planning for a 4-6 level residential/tourist complex on public land zoned ‘operational’ at 4 Bath Street and 1B Victory Row (refer Figure) as well as to consider extension of Arnott Street to the roundabout at Victory Parade. The only dissenting vote was from Cr Wendy Harrison. No architectural details are currently available because Council has deemed these to be ‘commercial-in-confidence’. However, the proposal contravenes Council’s own DCP/LEP (2014) guidelines for this site and will inevitably exacerbate traffic and parking problems. The zoning for this area (SP3 – tourist; B2 – retail, business, entertainment and community) allows for a wide range of development options.

The TFPG was formed as an alliance of concerned community groups (CPPA, TASNG, Toronto Sunrise and RMYC) and individuals to create community awareness of and challenge Council’s proposal. The TFPG has now launched its website (tfpg.org.au) which contains news updates, links to petitions, donations for the campaign and volunteering opportunities. To date, we have collected almost 2800 hard copy and on-line signatures through the efforts of the TFPG and other volunteers. These will be presented to Council in due course. Several meetings have been held with our mayor Cr Kay Fraser and other councillors. Many letters expressing deep concern from various viewpoints have been written to Councillors, newspapers and other media outlets by members of the public.

Our current dialogue with Council emphasises the following:

• We appreciate that the Toronto Foreshore Master Plan (TFMP) 2018/19 has been fast tracked by Council. However, Council needs to include the proposed ‘development site’ as part of the physical area to be covered by the TFMP and not just proceed in tandem (refer Figure) and ensure integration with other plans (e.g. traffic) in Toronto. 
• Any activities related to progressing a development application needs to be halted. This will ensure that a number of options for this site can be canvassed, rather than just a building. 
• We would like to know the terms of reference for the TFMP, approximate time to release of the draft and how soon community wide consultation will take place. 
• We believe that Council needs to consider rezoning any ‘operational’ public land on the foreshore to ‘community’. Toronto has the least amount of foreshore land of any lakeside township in Lake Macquarie. Community land can be enhanced in many different ways to boost tourist appeal and economic growth. 
• There is no need for the Council to profit from the proposed development site in order to fund improvements to the foreshore and other recreational land. Council had already allocated over $4.5 M from contributions for foreshore improvement from the Toronto Catchment Contributions Plan. Since this money was not used to purchase the Hirecraft marina site at Wharf Street, it could be used towards foreshore and other improvements in the Toronto area. 
• Several Council and state level plans and policies point to the importance of protecting and enhancing waterfront parkland areas, providing adequate community open spaces and access to foreshore land. 

PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting is planned for 7 pm on Tuesday 4 September at the Toronto High School, Field Ave. The objective will be to provide the community with up-to-date information on foreshore plans and allow councillors to get further community feedback. Please put this date in your diaries and let your family, friends and colleagues know.

LETTER WRITING SESSION

On Monday 30 July at the Centenary HUB (97 The Boulevarde) between 6 and 9 pm, we have set aside time to assist residents to write letters to councillors and the media. Please consider coming along because writing letters is one of the most effective means of voicing concern.