CoS Mayoral Minute on ATP - 23 February 2015

AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY PARK EVELEIGH - MINUTE BY THE LORD MAYOR

To Council:

UrbanGrowth NSW called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the sale of the Australian Technology Park (ATP) in Eveleigh on 5 December 2014 and is now assessing submissions. If the NSW Government proceeds with the sale, the next stage will be aninvitation to tender.

In December, Council endorsed my Lord Mayoral Minute calling for a review of the site’s strategic planning framework. The resulting independent review by HillPDA Consulting (Attachment A) provides essential information about the risks and benefits associated with the sale of this public site.

The Australian Technology Park has a long history of public ownership and governance.

Given the significant urban renewal and increased densities planned by the NSW Government along the Central to Eveleigh corridor, it is important that any redevelopment of this site must retain and increase public access and benefits.

The review identifies significant risks that must be addressed, including:

• There is no certainty that proceeds from any sale would be reinvested in essential public facilities and infrastructure in the precinct.
• The EOI process may result in development inconsistent with planning controls, the master plan, and the vision for the adaptive reuse of buildings on the site.
• Damage to the significant heritage value of the site, especially as sale would no longer require the retention of a Section 170 Heritage and Conservation Register.
• Opportunities might be lost to contribute to the interchange and access improvements around Redfern Station.
• Public and community access across the designated open space could be lost, including pedestrian and cycle links.
• Development for alternative uses could lead to the loss of a critical mass of technology businesses and incubator space that has assisted new local businesses.

The report has specific recommendations about action the NSW Government can take to deliver outcomes in the public interest during the tender process. These include:

Exclusion of open space from any portion of the site for sale, with its retention in government ownership, including possible dedication to the City of Sydney.

• Excluding of heritage buildings and assets from any sale, with their retention in government ownership with public access.
• Input by the community, City of Sydney, Transport for NSW and other government organisations into the tender process to ensure assessment criteria and weighting that favour public interests, quality design, public access and heritage.
• Greater weight on design, access and heritage criteria, including consistency withplanning controls and the site’s established vision.