Govt pushes on with Everleigh rail yard demolition

The Government has called for tenders for the demolition of the Carriage Shop Extension and four of the Stores Buildings at the rail yards.

Documents from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority show the Stores Buildings date back to the 1880s, while the Carriage Shop Extension was done in 1911.

Geoff Turnbull from the group RedWatch is concerned.

"We're just a little suspicious that basically what they are trying to do is clear the site of possible heritage buildings that could actually still continue to have some use," he said.

But the National Trust's Graham Quint says the buildings have little historical importance.

"They are not as significant in their visual appeal and design as the other buildings on the site," he said.

Railcorp says the buildings have to be demolished because of structural issues.

Redfern-Waterloo Authority chief executive officer Roy Wakelin-King says the Railcorp development application has not been approved but will be released for public comment later this month.

He says the historical issues will be considered.

"We're conscience of obviously the heritage importance of north Everleigh and obviously the Redfern-Waterloo area more broadly," he said.

Mr Wakelin-King says it will be a lengthy process before any decision is made.

"The public exhibition period is from the 29th of April through to the 20th of May and we would obviously look to make a determination once all the assessments have been made as soon as possible there after," he said.

Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/18/2546429.htm