In a press release,Le Montage’s Giovannino “John” Navarra said he was primarily concerned with traffic flow and the safety of “children on an adrenalin rush” running around near licensed venues and Le Montage’s loading dock.
Navarra has also sensationally claimed to hold a “native earth claim” over the land which he says was given to him by a “personal treaty” with Lady Crown Turikatuku III,who is a local singer of Maori descent.
However,court documents obtained by theHerald show Le Montage is actually seeking injunctive relief based on allegations the council failed to take account of “the visual impact of the proposed lighting” on the function centre and its views,as well as “the visual impact of construction”.
In an affidavit,town planner Glenn Raymond – retained by Le Montage – said 10 trees to be planted on the skate park boundary were “not sufficient to form a screen to soften views of the skate plaza or prevent light spill to the function rooms on the northern end of Le Montage”.
Raymond also asserted the skate park may interfere with the way light reflects on the water during sunsets,ruining the “ambience that is provided by the waterfront situation”. Le Montage says the skate park should be built further away,past Leichhardt Oval No. 3 or near the aquatic centre.
A brochure Le Montage made about the dispute contains a full-page photograph of late anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela and his quote:“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”