Phoney consultation and a disregard for professional and sensible advice is what the Hunter Community Coalition (HCC) believes is leading to the downfall of Newcastle.
The HCC is made up of numerous community groups formed in a response to what they see as non-existent consultation between the council, urban planning groups and the community in regards to construction and planning projects throughout the city.
The group is hosting a public forum titled Taking the "Con" Out of Consultation tonight open to all residents and community groups concerned with what is happening in their city without their consideration. The forum will start at 7pm in the Hunter Room at City Hall.
Three guest speakers will be in attendance including NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, Corrinne Fisher from Total Environment Centre and founding convener of Better Planning Network, and Paul Scott a lecturer in Communication at the University of Newcastle and community advocate.
David Blithe from the HCC says people aren't being taken into account, communities aren't taken into account and overall the whole city is losing out.
"We are treated a bit like mushrooms, we're kept in the dark and fed on manure - decisions seem to be made and certainly are made before a phoney consultation process goes through."
The major concern is, of course, the upcoming Supercars event which has left many residents fuming.
"All of these things are concerns that we have that could've been resolved if planning had been open the residents and the other interested people like commuters, businesses and visitors had been consulted beforehand."
