Keneally: Marian Park Saved!

“Today the community can celebrate that our campaign has saved Marian Street Park from being turned into an 18 storey building,” Ms Keneally said.

Ms Keneally had written directly to Minister Frank Sartor in June to support a group of local residents who wanted the park preserved.

“In May I took up an invitation from a resident in the Watertower building to visit Marian Park and discuss the concerns residents have about the loss of the park and about the proposed use of the site – that is, the 18-story building – in the Draft BEP,” Ms Keneally said.

“I have spoken before about the pressing need in South Sydney for active recreation space. I have noted that in the City of Sydney north of Cleveland Street there are five swimming pools and leisure centres whilst south of Cleveland Street residents have nothing.”

“I remain a strong advocate for active recreation facilities in South Sydney. But in this case I was convinced that the Government needed to listen to local residents in their desire for local, usable, passive public open space,” Ms Keneally said.

“Marian Street Park is a small oasis in an otherwise busy, hectic, noisy and developed precinct, providing trees and space for passive recreation in this otherwise highly urbanised area.”

Minister Sartor said the draft Plan had been amended in response to public consultation.

“Following representations from the Member for Heffron and local residents, Marion Street Park will be preserved and zoned for public recreation,” he said.

“The State Government is offering to dedicate the land to City of Sydney Council, if agreement can be reached on plans to upgrade the Park for the enjoyment of locals.”

Ms Keneally also welcomed the Minister’s announcement that the Government is committing funding for a $10 million community health centre at the former Redfern Courthouse and Police Station, a $6 million pedestrian and cycle bridge to link Australian Technology Park with North Eveleigh and $16 million over ten years towards affordable housing for Aboriginal residents.

“The Built Environment Plan will support the Government’s Human Services and Enterprise and Employment Plans to drive the revitalisation of the local area, creating opportunity and jobs for local people.”

Other key aspects of the Built Environment Plan include:

• New planning frameworks for eight strategic sites across Redfern and Waterloo, to generate more than 400,000 square metres of new employment space and up to 2,000 new homes;
• A new Town Centre around an upgraded Redfern Railway Station, including a civic square, to serve as a hub for community and commercial activity;
• The restoration or adaptive re-use of up to 7.65 hectares of heritage structures on RWA strategic sites, including up to 6.7 hectares of rail heritage.
  

ENDS:          Kristina Keneally MP  9699 8166