Resolution from the Public Meeting at The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day Sunday 17th August 2008

Resolution from the Public Meeting at The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day Sunday 17^th August 2008.

This broad public meeting of NSW citizens calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Notice to Quit and any threat of eviction of Wrought Artsworks from the heritage Eveleigh Locomotive Blacksmiths workshop in order that discussions can be undertaken on the best way to preserve and manage all railway heritage locations, equipment and rolling stock within the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops in perpetuity. These discussions should also focus on achieving a National Heritage listing.

Given the potential conflict in this matter between Frank Sartor’s roles as Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo, (including the Australian Technology Park), and Minister responsible for the NSW Heritage Office, this meeting calls for immediate talks between the Premier of NSW and representatives of organizations concerned about heritage protection at Eveleigh. This would be an initial step in a process to determine the best way to permanently protect the heritage of the current site and during any proposed or future development of the former Eveleigh rail-yards.

Organizations represented in the discussions should include the National Trust, The History Council, The Powerhouse Museum [Note The Powerhouse Museum was not consulted about and did not agree to inclusion in the motion], the Institute of Engineers, local resident groups, the Sydney City Council, former Eveleigh workers and their unions, bodies currently operating in the sites heritage locations and Sydney University who is interested in acquiring the North Eveleigh site. Others may be added if necessary to ensure broad representation of heritage interests in the site.

In conclusion we call on the trade union movement, who’s heritage is at stake, to place an interim green ban on the site until talks with the Premier are held and a process for protecting the area’s heritage is agreed. So that this is not the sole responsibility of the trade union movement we also call upon Government, the RWA, the ATP, political parties and businesses not to enter into any agreements covering the site that would adversely impact on any remaining heritage on the former Eveleigh railway site.