Plans for North Eveleigh Now on Exhibition  - Clovers  eNews

I am concerned that the future of North Eveleigh's is being considered in isolation, despite the Redfern-Waterloo Authority's claims of "an exciting residential, commercial and cultural community in the new millennium".

There is inadequate consideration of the pressing issues of climate change and sustainability, and a failure to take advantage of North Eveleigh's potential to become an environmental exemplar. I remain concerned about protection of the site's heritage, impact on surrounding residential communities, and linkages with adjacent educational institutions.

The concept plans, which will be determined by the Minister for Planning, are now on public exhibition and envisage:

• the adaptive reuse of a number of key heritage buildings across the site;
• the construction of an estimated 1258 dwellings for 2400 new residents, including an "iconic" residential tower at the northern end;
• commercial and retail space providing permanent new jobs for 3270 employees;
• a series of public and private open spaces some of which will be dedicated back to Council; and
• the provision of approximately 2000 car parking spaces.

Information on the Authority's website also indicates that the sale of surplus land at the site will fund a major upgrade of Redfern Railway Station, including new station access and link routes, and the proposed pedestrian bridge between the Australian Technology Park and North Eveleigh.

I have asked the City to draft a submission on the concept plans focussing on key issues such as:

• The extent to which the principles for North Eveleigh align with Council's Sustainable Sydney 2030 Vision and the integration of North Eveleigh into the adjacent Darlington village and future Redfern Activity Hub;
• The implications of the new development on traffic in the Darlington area;The impacts of the redevelopment on the Wilson Street cycleway;
• The provision of better access for residents and workers to and from Redfern Station, including direct connections between the Station and the proposed development, facilitating greater public transport use;
• An assessment of the appropriateness of the adaptation and reuse of key heritage buildings, including their conversion and use as residences; and
• An examination of the proposed car parking rates.

The City will work to ensure that Ministerial planning decisions don't undermine the Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision and that future development of the site occurs in consultation with the community.

I encourage both residents of the area and others interested in ensuring better planning outcomes to forward submissions to the Department of Planning before the closing date of 12 June 2008.

Information

• www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/north_eveleigh.htm
• www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/major_projects.asp

Source: Clovers eNews Friday 16 May 2008 - No. 397

Extract from CoS Council Meeting Monday 12 May 2008

Question by Councillor McInerney

I note from a recent CEO update that the City had not received the documentation from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, relating to the public exhibition of the North Eveleigh Concept Plan, by the time it went on public exhibition. Could the CEO confirm or inform me as to whether the City has now received this documentation? Also, I’d like to note that we must get a submission in because I believe we certainly should make a submission. I’m sure the CEO will do that, but the CEO will need to make that submission before 12 June, which is the closing date.

Answer by the Lord Mayor

It’s an important issue and I would like to make some comment on it and then refer it to the CEO. The draft concept plan is now on public exhibition, as you’ve said. This was raised at the recent CSPC meeting and they have requested a presentation from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority. The CEO has followed that up and put that request in and, if that is agreed to, we will ensure that all Councillors are invited as well as the members of the CSPC.

The plan envisages the adaptive reuse of a number of peak heritage buildings across the site; construction of an estimated 1,258 dwellings for 2,400 new residents, including an iconic “residential tower at the northern end”. I’m not sure what that means; it makes me very wary, I must say, I hope it’s not like the TNT Towers. Commercial retail space providing permanent new jobs for 3,270 employees; a series of public and private open spaces, some of which will be dedicated back to Council, and the provision of approximately 2,000 car parking spaces. The sale of surplus land at North Eveleigh is also expected to fund a major upgrade at Redfern Railway Station – I thought that was actually the job of Government to fund essential rail – improving access link routes as well as a proposed pedestrian bridge between the ATP and North Eveleigh.

I will ask the CEO to ensure that a submission on the draft concept is developed and the following issues are explored as part of the submission:

• implications of the new development on planning in the Darlington area;
• impacts on the Wilson Street Cycleway;
• provision of better access to residents and workers to and from Redfern Station, including direct connections between the station and the proposed development, facilitating greater public transport use;
• the appropriateness of the adaptation and reuse of key heritage buildings, including the conversion and use as residences. For example, I’m concerned that one illustration shows a multi-story apartment building coming out of the roof of the heritage paint shop; and
• the proposed car parking rates.

The submission should also address the extent to which the principles of North Eveleigh align with Council’s Sustainable Sydney 2030. I think the major concern for us is that this site is being excised from the City, it’s been excised from the work that we do right across the City, in particular in relation to 2030, in the same way that Barangaroo has been. I think we have to really try and work hard to ensure that the mistakes of the past when sites are excised out of the City don’t occur again. The problems we currently have with Darling Harbour are a result of that site being excised and developed in isolation.

I am really quite concerned that the finances are not coming from Government Department budgets like the SRA, but being generated perhaps by overdevelopment of this really important heritage site. I think there are real issues for us here, and I think it’s really terrible that we’re hearing about what’s in the plans, instead of the plans being developed in consultation with our Planners. We need to be working side by side and in cooperation with both the RWA as well as SHFA on these very important sites for the future of the City. I’ll certainly ask the CEO to prepare that submission and circulate it to Councillors, given the timeframe.

City of Sydney Meeting Minutes - 12 May 2008 | PDF 379Kb