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Ever try to pour a schooner into a midi?

The Daily Telegraph reported last month that “planning Minister Frank Sartor is being sued over his approval of the controversial redevelopment of the Carlton United Brewery site. Mr Sartor and the CUB parent company, Fosters, are named in a law suit lodged by concerned local Matthew Drake-Brockman. Mr Drake-Brockman lodged his papers with the Land and Environment Court this week and will issue his points of claim in the next few weeks” reports Trevor Davies in the April 2007 edition of the South Sydney Herald.

Inner city environmentalist-activist, Matthew Drake-Brockman, argues the $2 billion development is not environmentally sustainable. It is the same argument used by Peter Gray who challenged the approval of the Anvil Hill coalmine near Muswellbrook. Matthew Drake-Brockman told the Daily Telegraph: “I have watched with dismay as the State Government took over the CUB project. I believe that the State Government will not act to protect Sydney from climate change, it will not use water sustainability and it gives priority to large developers at the expense of existing and future generation.”

After this Chippendale declared war. Posters appeared on every telegraph pole in the area, inviting people to a meeting and, with 3 days notice, 90 people turned up at the Chippendale Peace Park on Thursday March 15.

Greens Councillor and candidate for the state seat of Sydney, Chris Harris, co- chaired the meeting to garner support for Matthew Drake Brockman’s legal challenge. The organizers had invited a couple of speakers to address the meeting about how to fight the State Government. There was a Councillor from Leichardt who had helped save Callan Park and Joe Holder who was part of the Coalition against the Cross City Tunnel.

After this, Councillor Chris Harris told the meeting, “The Minister had an opportunity to require that CUB deliver a project that would be a model for sustainable development. Instead, he decided on a ‘business as usual’ approach. This flies in the face of the Government’s commitment to address climate change.”

The Sydney City Council lost planning control of the $2 billion development after Mr Sartor seized control of the project last June. Chris Harris was anxious to point out that what Frank Sartor had approved was not much different to what the Council had agreed on. He told the South Sydney Herald that there was about a 5 % difference in the floor space ratio for the same number of cars. The council allowed 100 metres and the State Government 120 metres.

One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said that if the approved plans add more than 8,000 residents and workers to Chippendale, with towers up to 40 storeys high, then this development is just too big. “It’s like trying to pour a Schooner into a Midi!”

Other residents agree. Lindsay Charles, long time Chippendale resident, told the Herald that neither the present proposal nor the earlier City Council’s proposal for the $2 billion development CUB site is environmentally sustainable. He claimed that residents would have taken legal action against either proposal.

Former Deputy Mayor, John McInerney, told the South Sydney Herald that Councillor Harris was wrong. “The City had been about to publicly exhibit new planning controls when the State Government intervened. The Concept Plan has resulted in denser, less sustainable development than envisaged by the City’s draft controls – draft controls that were still to undergo community input and an open and transparent process.

The Minister has approved the redevelopment with an increased floor space of 4.18:1, where the City proposed a range between 3.5:1 and 4:1, with the maximum contingent on design excellence and community benefit. No protection of three significant heritage buildings that the City proposed to protect (buildings 32, 35A and 35B). This destroys the proposed ‘special area’ centred on the Irving Street Brewery complex and enables destruction of the ‘sunburst’ building.

Provision for seven buildings over 60m in height, two over 90m and one at almost 120m contrast the City’s envisaged two buildings between 70 and 100m. The significant public domain areas of Brewery Square and Tooth Avenue will be heavily overshadowed and vulnerable to strong winds.”     SSH

For more information from Chippendale Residents contact them at communityworkingparty@yahoo.com.au

Source: South Sydney Herald April 2007 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au