Private profit, public land. It's not always evil. Cafes, restaurants and boating businesses encrust our lovely harbour like salt on a margarita glass and many of us, myself included, would like more. So what principles should govern this lopsided dance between the wealthy few and the voiceless many? How can it be choreographed to benefit the city as a whole?

Developer lust for public land is perhaps the enduring Sydney truth. Yet each time it happens is like a first. We're caught totally off guard, with only the most gossamer framework protecting the public interest. Then we act all surprised when we get thoroughly trashed.

Illustration: Rocco Fazzari

No doubt it's a denial thing. We pretend that private money is no longer entitled to prance across public land. But it's so not true. All around, mega developments are gobbling our shared territory – Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, North Parramatta, White Bay, Moore Park.

"Never stand between a ­developer and a bag of money," quips Paul Keating. "You'll be killed every time." But actually, that's why we have government, to stand against the roughshod rule of the rich. And tbh, it's something Keating could do a tad more of.