Two Sydney harbourside councils have announced they will be charging people who use their parks to watch the new years eve fireworks.
It will not be a gold coin entry either. These councils intend to gouge adults a twenty five dollar entry fee, with a charge of fifteen dollars for every child.
An old Chinese proverb says " that the longest journey starts with the first step ".
The first step is about to be taken to turn public parks into revenue raising opportunities for some councils, and it is inevitable that this will be taken up by other councils - and extended to events such as the crowds who gather to watch the start of the Sydney/Hobart yacht race on Boxing day.
It is essential that the state government step in and nip this act of bastardry in the bud. One of the delights of Sydney and it's glorious harbour is the ability of the public to gather in public places to watch the events that make Sydney a world city.
The very idea that councils with a " Scrooge " mentality should be allowed to dictate a fee for a stroll in the park is simply an extension of the " revenue raising " myopia that sees " fees and fines " unjustly levied wherever we drive, park or simply go about our daily lives.
If public parks attract an entry fee every time there are fireworks - or the presence of a major ocean liner or similar attraction - what is to stop councils erecting turnstyles and charging to go for a swim on city beaches ?
There is a line that should not be crossed - and this proposal just crossed that line !
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