St Vincent’s sells Caritas to developers - aggravating residents

The new facility is to be housed in St Vincent’s O’Brien building which must undergo a $40 million redevelopment to meet Federal Government building standards. The O’Brien’s facility will bring together Caritas services and the drug and alcohol services provided at St Vincent’s neighbouring Rankin Court and Gorman House buildings.

St Vincent’s says of the decision to integrate their services in one building: “While our Caritas, (Rankin and Gorman House) services offer the best treatment possible, our ability to care for patients is being hampered by outdated buildings and facilities.”

The State Government has already committed $23 million for the O’Brien redevelopment with St Vincent’s to fund the remaining $17 million. St Vincent’s is seeking to sell the Caritas mental health site to developers, complete with Planning Minister approval, to fund the full amount.

The proposed plans account for up to 12 storeys of mixed commercial and residential use at Caritas, car parking for residents and the preservation of heritage sites. Local residents are angered about what they see as the degeneration of a heritage area.

“They are vandalising the integrity of Sydney’s second oldest colonial precinct,” said Jo Holder of the Darlinghurst Residents Action Group.

Spokesperson for St Vincent’s, David Faktor, believes they have taken adequate consideration of the area’s historical value and the crown land on which Caritas sits.

“We have engaged a leading architect firm to form a proposal that works best with the heritage area, heritage buildings and old trees. That includes a residential tower so these things can be preserved and green space provided”. Residents are particularly irate about the consultation process. “There has been no consultation with the community,” said Jo Holder. “It has been an autocratic process endorsed by the Minister (for Planning’s) development protocols. All power vests with the Minister and St Vincent’s themselves are simply running a marketing exercise.”

“We have run a genuine and proper consultation process,” argued David Faktor. “The plans were certainly not a fait accompli and we have taken community feedback into consideration.”

Public submissions closed 2nd November.

The NSW Planning Department is currently assessing St Vincent’s proposal. This includes a request to rule the Caritas site ‘state significant’ which will allow the transfer of land title to St Vincent’s.

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2006