Academic body needs good neighbours

The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, along with key administrative staff, addressed the Darlington residents. The Vice-Chancellor opened his remarks by admitting past faults in his institution’s lack of communication with surrounding suburbs. He also acknowledged that the University had failed to act collectively in regards to the neighbours of its Darlington campus.

“One of the things that has come back again and again is that the University, quite frankly, is ashamed of not being very good neighbours,” Dr Spence said. “And if we are going to talk about being an institution that has community roots then those community roots ought to begin with those communities around the campus.”

But the real catalyst for the meeting is the yet-to-be-decided future of the North Eveleigh precinct and Sydney University’s desire to develop and take up residence in the currently derelict train yards. Residents expressed their support for the University’s plan, but only as an alternative to possible commercial development on the 11-hectare site. 

Dr Spence understood that the University’s attempt to build better relations would be met with some scepticism in light of its intentions for the North Eveleigh site. But the VC pleaded for new opportunities to demonstrate genuine and long-term commitment. He could not stress enough Sydney University’s desire to become a better neighbour. “You have to tell us pretty clearly what it is we’ve done well and what you think the University has done poorly in relating to the local community and what you think we could do better and, more importantly, how we can keep this dialogue live and ongoing.”

Attending residents were not supine in their appraisal of the University’s plans. Many in the area see the option of an open and inviting campus with green space and an increase in student housing as a positive. But as a result of poor relations, this is only an affirmative when weighed against the possibility of solely commercial and residential usage.

“I’ve had the Redfern Waterloo Authority as a neighbour for three years and I’d much rather the Sydney University as neighbour,” said one woman who lives adjacent to the Carriage Works. “And I’ve compared their plans for the future and your plans for the future and I can see that [the University’s] plans see us a part of the whole neighbourhood.”

Many residents’ complaints are nothing new, but Dr Spence understands the sense of urgency with respect to addressing them.

One recurring problem is with students who commute between the University campus and Redfern Station, en masse. The VC admitted he was not aware that pedestrian access and peak-time flooding of footpaths was such an issue. Ideally, once the redevelopment of North Eveleigh and Redfern Station occurs it will open a new artery for foot traffic as well as a second point of access at the station’s southern end. It has long been known that the decade overdue upgrades were to be funded by North Eveleigh’s sale.

Despite the RWA and Government approving the plans for North Eveleigh in mid-2008, the Global Financial Crisis, and other factors, put the sale and redevelopment on ice. There is suspicion circulating that Treasury has put the decision on hold in the hope of greater pecuniary benefit to the Government. This notion has been buoyed by recent comments from the Urban Task Force that ambiguously stated an intention to change the demographic mix of the Darlington area.

At a recent Labor party meeting, Local Member and Deputy Premier Carmel Tebutt acknowledged her preference for the University to develop the site, a party insider confirmed. Though it was also said by Ms Tebutt that such a scenario was dependent on certain conditions being met.

When asked what those conditions might be Dr Spence was at a loss. He stressed that Sydney University has done everything it has been asked thus far. “I’m not sure what problems the Government would have with us because we have almost irresponsibly said at almost every point, ‘Tell us what we have to do; we want the land’, and ‘Tell us what we have to do; we’ll do it.’ So it’s hard to know what kind of problems they have with us.”

Though only having lived in the Darlington area for 12 months, Coudory Street resident, Robert, tipped his hat in favour of the University as a preferred denizen in the former train yards. “Personally, I would lend my support to the University for the purchase of North Eveleigh,” he said, whilst also commending Dr Spence’s efforts to redress the wounds left on the small suburb. “I’m pretty impressed by the Vice Chancellor’s commitment to community engagement. It’s encouraging,” he said.

The VC was certainly aware that the implicit pact between the neighbours and former foes was not something that could be taken for granted. “I hope we’re going to be easier for everybody to deal with,” he said.

Photo: Ali Blogg -  The Vice-Chancellor addresses locals

Source: South Sydney Herald May 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au