Privatisation plans raise heritage fears

Planning Minister Kristina Keneally said the ATP and Darling Harbour, including the Harbourside Shopping Centre, Sydney Aquarium and IMAX theatre, were likely to be subject to 99-year leases in the future.

The measure was announced as part of the mini-budget, which forecasted a $917 million deficit for NSW.

“The long-term lease of these assets will provide a shot in the arm for the State’s economy,” said M. Keneally.

“It will also free-up the government agencies responsible for these assets, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, to strengthen their focus on what they do best.”

Ms Keneally said the leasing of assets will be staged and will proceed if there was appropriate interest from the private sector.

“SHFA will retain ownership of the Entertainment Centre, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Chinese Gardens and public domain assets at Darling Harbour, Luna Park and The Rocks Precinct,” Ms Keneally said.

“These are landmarks, synonymous with Sydney, and the continued good work of SHFA will maintain the status they hold with Sydneysiders and visitors.”

Redfern residents have expressed concern that heritage areas of the ATP will be at risk if the park comes under private ownership.

In 1887, the site now known as the ATP was home to Sydney’s locomotive workshop.

The area was redeveloped as a technology park, with the intention of creating a precinct where modern technologies would be showcased alongside those of the past.

“If you lease it out, then whoever takes over can do what they like with it, except for the conditions within the lease”, said REDWatch spokesman, Geoff Turnbull.

The heritage issues at the ATP are ongoing and of great importance to the local community and particular stakeholder groups.

“The leasehold sale process presents the Government with an opportunity to address heritage issues, moving forward”, said Lee Davelaar, spokesperson for Ms Keneally.

“We would expect that the same protections that apply to heritage structures under the existing ownership arrangements will apply under any new leasehold arrangements.”

Mr Turnbull said REDWatch did not object to the privatisation of the ATP, but suggested the government heritage areas should be excluded from the lease and entrusted to a governing body, which could work to develop heritage areas into a tourist precinct.

He said he was also concerned about what would happen to Wrought Artworks, the blacksmiths still operating in the site’s original blacksmith bays, which were threatened with eviction by the RWA earlier in the year.

“The continued operation of the blacksmith shop was one of the development consent conditions for the development of the park in the first place. If you don’t protect heritage assets they could end up being lost through neglect,” he said.

Source: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/privatisation-plans-raise-heritage-fears/