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Passing the buck on Fairfield City Farm

13 Nov, 2009 03:52 PM
Fairfield City Farm has been the subject of political buck-passing in State Parliament.

Liberal MLC Charlie Lynn raised the issue of the farm's imminent closure despite great community support earlier this week.

"The mayor of Fairfield and state member for Cabramatta does not seem to understand that this is a great demonstration of the strong support for Fairfield City Farm in the local community," he told parliament.

"Members will recall that I asked the Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, if he was aware that Fairfield City Council will not renew its lease with the Western Sydney Parklands Trust to keep the farm open and running for the benefit of the community. I also asked whether Fairfield City Council had approached him or his department to request the funds necessary to keep Fairfield City Farm open.

"In his response the minister praised the member for Cabramatta and the member for Smithfield. He also told me that he would pass my inquiry to the relevant minister, David Borger, the Minister for Western Sydney.

"I do not believe that the Minister for Western Sydney is the relevant Minister. The Minister for Western Sydney is more of a token appointment and is more concerned with the running of the Western Sydney business awards."

Do you think the government is passing the buck on Fairfield City Farm?

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If Mr Charlie Lynn MLC is so concerned with the Fairfield City farm closure why does he not raise a "private members bill" to issue State Government funds to the Fairfield City Council to make up the current losses. He and the State Government own the farm land, come on Charlie "put your hand in your pocket"dont just talk about it !!! What is the Liberals policy regarding the farm, from all accounts the Fairfield Liberal Councillors voted to end the lease on the City Farm in total. Come on Charlie....do something...not just talk about it !!
Posted by Patrick dempsey, 13/11/2009 4:24:08 PM
Mlc Charlie Lynn, no doubt is point scoring, i would like to know why he his sticking his nose into this issue. Its a Local Issue for local people, we dont want his political point scoring at a time when tenders are being considered. He is jepordising the opportunity for the farm to continue. If Fairfield city council decided to close the farm down after many years, there must be a good reason. If the farm is a viable operation , im sure that private enterprise will take it on and improove it. Either way ill back the desicion by local representatives any day, they have the local areas interest at heart. If Mr Lynn is so keen on a Farm, he should be asking for it to be established in his electorate of Camden, it will be more in keeping with its character than Fairfield, and as the local member, he would be able to visit it everyday.
Posted by Garry Adams, 13/11/2009 5:43:57 PM
Garry, what are you on about. I am greatful for Charlie Lynn to have raised the farm in order to put pressure on the powers to be to give the farm some attention. I love the place and met my wife there. Mr Lalich is the mayor and local member. There is no one in a better position to raise the issue with the State Government than Nick as he got a foot in each camp. The only thing that the community expects from Nick Lalich is that he communicates with the local residents who indicated that they feel the farm is a great local asset and that Mr Lalich drives this message home to the Western Sydney Parklands Trust so he get's their support. . How can Nick sing from the tourism song sheet and then close the only Olympic venue and the only regional attraction bearing Fairfield City's name. I was there when the farm was opened in the 1980's and only after Council raised the fees to relative high levels did the visitor numbers drop and income actually fell. The losses of the Farm in the past years were a home made problem by Fairfield City Council - due to lack of business skills. The community goodwill is there, the facility is there.. what else does Nick Lalich need to make it work?
Posted by Markus Lambert, 14/11/2009 1:15:41 AM
Mr Lambert, how your local knowledge fails you. Mr Lalich is the MP for Cabramatta, Fairfield city Farm is not in his electorate of Cabramatta. The Olympic name is attached to 2 venues in Fairfield, The City Farm and the Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park. I have never heard Mr Lalich wanting to close the city farm as the Council has only decided unamimously to end its lease and new operators are being sought for its continuance. Mr Lambert do you actually live local or are you just a "blow-in" from an outside suburb.
Posted by Patrick Dempsey, 14/11/2009 9:11:53 AM
I'm also grateful that Charlie Lynn has raised the issue. If it wasn't for people raising issues and making a fuss, things would never get done in Fairfield LGA. Just about everything that has been achieved this year has come about by media awareness, political pressure and people power. Local Labor seem to only act or function when under threat or pressure. Everything that has been fought for and won has involved dragging local Labor kicking and screaming all the way. Of course when the backflips finally occur they say stufff like "that was always our plan in the first place". The local community is constantly taken for granted and treated like fools by these arrogant and out of date masters. It's time for each and everyone of them to be gone, for the years of neglect, arrogance, controversy, scandal, bungling, dithering, equivocation, spin, failure and general disaster that they have imposed upon this community. The pile of garbage that is slowly burying the local suburbs is symbolic of what these people have constantly delivered - GARBAGE. If it requires a fuss to save Fairfield Farm, then I welcome people whipping up a storm. Good on Vicky Mycio and everyone who has fought.
Posted by Col Irwin, 14/11/2009 10:28:48 AM
The Australian Business Party supports the continued operation of the Fairfield City Farm under the auspices of Fairfield City Council. The ABP will fight the decision to have the Farm closed down. Shame on Fairfield City Council for letting down the community once again. Joseph Adams Australian Business Party
Posted by Joseph Adams, 14/11/2009 11:20:54 AM
I'm glad that Charlie Lynn has raised this issue. Mr Laich clearly has a conflict of interest being Mayor and local member. There is a group campaigning against the closure of the farm, and despite numerous (heaps and heaps) of genuine attempts to contact Mr Laich for some answers to queries brought up from statements that Mr Laich himself has made, he has not even had the courtesy to reply with a statement to them! This group has come up with fantastic ideas to bring FCF more into the community, raise money, increase the profile, and work with the council, but Mr Lalich has made it clear that he is not interested in even listening. There's another group online linking various causes, all about the closure of family-styled facilities throughout Western Sydney, and even commenting on Sydney-wide closures - there's many tens of thousands on that group. Western Sydney cannot afford to keep losing facilities - we're in danger of becoming a concrete jungle with no leisure areas at all! So thank you to Charlie Lynn!
Posted by BB, 14/11/2009 1:10:44 PM
Can't you politicians do anything right? Some negotiation re the city farm is all is needed to get it running again. Whats the hold up now! Surely Mr lalich can provide the finance to support and save this for our community. Why do we need to keep debating over something which our community really wants. Can't you see Mr Lalich how important this means to the community. Its only to your interest and to our interest that this place stays and is supported by our council. Common sense tells you that, we all want to fight for what works in our community. What message don't you understand Mr Lalich? I'm sure you have the funds to accommodate this farm. STOP STALLING AND START MOVING......
Posted by Giulietta Citton, 14/11/2009 6:12:23 PM
Fairfield City Farm needs all the support it can get these days. Media, community groups, politicians and the internet community. I want to also say to Vicky, you are a brave girl for taking lead in this fight. I commend you for your efforts even though Lalich doesnt want to sit at a table with you and 'listen' to plans that would keep the farm open. I am also very happy your facebook group now has over 4000 people and continues to grow every single day. Mr Lalich more than 4000 people cant be wrong, so if i were you id support them and stop playing games with the community.
Posted by Emmanuel Brikha, 15/11/2009 3:40:36 PM
I worked at Fairfield Council when the farm opened over 20 years ago. At the time the farm started as an employment scheme when Fairfield had over 15% unemployment.The idea was to create employment and teach local kids that milk does not come out of a carton etc. Many locals worked long hours to put the place together and renovate the existing buildings. At the time the Federal Government spend millions and later also the State Government as part of the Olympic funding. The whole thing went pear shaped when Fairfield Council raised the entry fees in the late 1990's - and the fees became less affordable for local families. While the farm is a fun experience - paying over $50 for a family visit plus the ice creams, the animal feed etc.. meant visitor numbers and income plummeted. Now blind Freddy could tell you that in these circumstances one reviews the decision and maybe reduces the entry fee or installs solar and wind power and improves the educational attractions - but not our Fairfield Council. Operating from a business model which posted a loss each the powers to be sat there like a rabbit in the headlights and counted down the years when the lease ran out. What a shame...
Posted by the swansong writer, 15/11/2009 11:32:51 PM
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