National Indigenous Development Centre Statement - 22 October 2007

The project in brief

The National Indigenous Development Centre is a project of the Indigenous Land Corporation, a Federal Statutory Authority. The vision for the Centre is as a facility to nurture sporting excellence and personal and leadership development among Australia’s Indigenous community. The Centre will provide sporting and educational facilities to be used by Indigenous groups from across the country. Many of the facilities will be available to the local community on a user pays basis.

National Indigenous Development Centre Approval and Timetable

The Indigenous Land Corporation welcomes the decision of the Minister for Planning to approve the development of the National Indigenous Development Centre on the site of the old Redfern Public School. The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) is now finalising the tender documents to be used to select a list of builders. The call for tenders will go out shortly. The selection process will take a number of months and it is likely that a builder will be signed up in the first quarter of 2008. Construction is likely to commence in the second quarter of 2008, with an approximate construction program of 18 months.

Conditions

The Minister for Planning attached a number of conditions to the project approval, including:

• An experienced conservation architect must be engaged in the design, development and construction of existing heritage buildings on site.
• Alterations, demolition and new penetrations to existing heritage-listed buildings are to be kept at a minimum.
• A test excavation must be undertaken on the site by a qualified archaeologist prior to construction with respect to Aboriginal and European heritage.

Community Engagement

ILC will continue to ensure that the local community is kept informed over coming months. Updates will be emailed and posted out on a regular basis, and the on-site signage will be kept up to date with latest news.

Shortly before construction starts ILC will hold an open house information event on site. This will be attended by the  project  team, including  representatives from the ILC and the builder, and will be an opportunity for the local community to learn about how the Centre will look, how it will be used and managed, the range of facilities available for community use, and how the construction is to be conducted. It will also provide an opportunity for questions and feedback from the community. This event will be open to everyone with an interest in the project. Further details will be provided closer to the event.

If you have questions or would like additional information about the NIDC, please contact Stuart Waters at Twyford Consulting at the details listed below.

For more information on the Indigenous Land Corporation see http://www.ilc.gov.au/site/page.cfm