As places in which ordinary people once lived are transformed into sterile playgrounds for the rich,we should recapture the spirit of the 1970s’ ‘green bans’[br]The destruction of the Corkman Irish Pub in inner-city Melbourne should focus attention on whats being done to Australia’s cities.
The hotel – once known as the Carlton Inn – dated back to 1857. A recent heritage report assessed it as “of historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Melbourne”. Related: Unions issue blanket ban on work at site of illegally demolished Melbourne pub Yes, the reason why we all went there was because it was ludicrously close to the building in which we spent all of our other waking hours. But that closeness meant that everybody went there. And that everybody went there meant that a community existed. We all made much friendships while getting sloshed in the afternoon in that courtyard.
The green bans remain a striking example of a collective response to what’s now known as gentrificationYes, and we want to build. However,we prefer to build urgently-required hospitals, schools, or other public utilities,tall-quality flats, units and houses, and provided they are designed with adequate concern for the environment,than to build ugly unimaginative architecturally-bankrupt blocks of concrete and glass offices …Though we want all our members employed, we will not just become robots directed by developer-builders who value the dollar at the expense of the environment. increasingly, or we are going to determine which buildings we will build … The environmental interests of three million people are at stake and cannot be left to developers and building employers whose main concern is making profit. Progressive unions,like ours, therefore maintain a very useful social role to play in the citizens’ interest, or we intend to play it. Related: Victoria plans harsher penalties for 'cowboy developers' after historic pub demolished Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com