CAWB CELEBRATES 365 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS OCCUPATION OF THOMPSON SQUARE
On Sunday July 20th, members of Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) celebrated a remarkable community achievement. The group has continuously occupied Thompson Square in Windsor for the past 365 days.
The CAWB Tent Ambassadors were joined for a celebration picnic by Special Guests David Shoebridge MP, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MP, Opposition Leader John Robertson, Assistant Secretary for the CFMEU Rebel Hanlon and Local Councillors Leigh Williams, Mary Lyons-Buckett and Barry Calvert.
The afternoon festivities were topped off by a Celebration Cake donated by Rebel Hanlon and the CFMEU.
A Year of Occupation
In what is believed to be a community action first for NSW, concerned local residents have carried out an around the clock vigil, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the past year to protect Historic Thompson Square from the NSW Government's proposed Windsor Bridge Replacement Project (WBRP), which would see the demolition of the historic 1874 Windsor Bridge and its replacement with a two-lane, modern concrete bridge and a major new connecting road through the Square.
In a rare show of defiance and determination ordinary people, not given to protest, from all walks of life, of all ages and from across the political spectrum have given over their daily lives to protect the Square. For twelve months CAWB’s landmark tent and volunteers have greeted pedestrians and travellers alike as they make their way through the Hawkesbury's premier tourism precinct.
CAWB Chairman Dail Miller says “This landmark protest has brought together an army of locals, determined to protect the Square regardless of rain, wind, freezing conditions or scorching heat. This protest continues to demonstrate just how deep feelings run in this community which is extremely proud of its place in the heritage of NSW and Australia.”
The Government's plan was approved by the former Minister for Planning in a one minute to midnight announcement last Christmas. Since then CAWB has challenged the decision in the Land and Environment Court, with a hearing set down for October. In a sublime piece of irony, the NSW Government recognised the CAWB volunteers with a Heritage Volunteers Award for 2014.
In a rarely seen move, an interim Green Ban was placed on the Square by the CFMEU in May this year.
CAWB member, and long time resident Harry Terry says “…the only logical solution is to retain and renovate Windsor’s still-sound historic bridge for local traffic and put heavy and through traffic on a new bypass, providing a further two lanes across the Hawkesbury River at Windsor and potential for further, easy expansion in response to any future additional traffic demand.”
On Sunday July 20th, members of Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) celebrated a remarkable community achievement. The group has continuously occupied Thompson Square in Windsor for the past 365 days.
The CAWB Tent Ambassadors were joined for a celebration picnic by Special Guests David Shoebridge MP, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MP, Opposition Leader John Robertson, Assistant Secretary for the CFMEU Rebel Hanlon and Local Councillors Leigh Williams, Mary Lyons-Buckett and Barry Calvert.
The afternoon festivities were topped off by a Celebration Cake donated by Rebel Hanlon and the CFMEU.
A Year of Occupation
In what is believed to be a community action first for NSW, concerned local residents have carried out an around the clock vigil, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the past year to protect Historic Thompson Square from the NSW Government's proposed Windsor Bridge Replacement Project (WBRP), which would see the demolition of the historic 1874 Windsor Bridge and its replacement with a two-lane, modern concrete bridge and a major new connecting road through the Square.
In a rare show of defiance and determination ordinary people, not given to protest, from all walks of life, of all ages and from across the political spectrum have given over their daily lives to protect the Square. For twelve months CAWB’s landmark tent and volunteers have greeted pedestrians and travellers alike as they make their way through the Hawkesbury's premier tourism precinct.
CAWB Chairman Dail Miller says “This landmark protest has brought together an army of locals, determined to protect the Square regardless of rain, wind, freezing conditions or scorching heat. This protest continues to demonstrate just how deep feelings run in this community which is extremely proud of its place in the heritage of NSW and Australia.”
The Government's plan was approved by the former Minister for Planning in a one minute to midnight announcement last Christmas. Since then CAWB has challenged the decision in the Land and Environment Court, with a hearing set down for October. In a sublime piece of irony, the NSW Government recognised the CAWB volunteers with a Heritage Volunteers Award for 2014.
In a rarely seen move, an interim Green Ban was placed on the Square by the CFMEU in May this year.
CAWB member, and long time resident Harry Terry says “…the only logical solution is to retain and renovate Windsor’s still-sound historic bridge for local traffic and put heavy and through traffic on a new bypass, providing a further two lanes across the Hawkesbury River at Windsor and potential for further, easy expansion in response to any future additional traffic demand.”