Clover's eNews—Friday, 16 September 2005—No. 264CITY UNVEILS SOUTH SYDNEY VISIONThe City has unveiled a $50 million-plus program for revitalising the Sydney’s southern areas over the next four years, improving facilities and services for people living and working in Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington and Eveleigh. The program includes an accelerated roll-out of capital works that is already budgeted for and has flowed out of extensive consultation with the local community. The suite of projects includes:
It is imperative that the final design and facilities for Redfern Park appeal to the broadest cross-section of the community and encouraged widespread usage. There have to be trees, grass and picnic areas, as well as plenty of open space for sport and recreation – both youth and senior, both informal and organised. Our plans will provide the greatest good for the greatest number: greater community access, space for athlete training, facilities for spectators to watch from both seated areas and the sidelines, versatile configuration to allow open plan as well as the potential for temporary or retractable fencing; modest traffic and parking impacts; no appreciable decrease in air quality and no commercial conflicts. The federally-funded Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) has informed me that it is not interested in purchasing or leasing Redfern Park from the City. The General Manager of the ILC, David Galvin, has written to me, stating that the ILC Board is looking at a range of options including the Redfern Public School, the PCYC and the Black Theatre at Cope Street, and he wishes the City well in its endeavours to revitalise Redfern Park. See Event Alert for information about Prince Alfred Park community consultation. STATE TO DETERMINE SACRED HEART CHURCH REDEVELOPMENTThe redevelopment of the Sacred Heart Church by Notre Dame University for a medical research facility has been directed to the State Government instead of the City of Sydney. This means that the development will now be assessed by state bureaucrats who do not have to face the people affected by their decisions, without the public input provided by Council’s committee processes. The City of Sydney provided heritage protection for the Sacred Heart Church in February, including the Church Hall and curtilage, by listing the site as a heritage item in its Local Environment Plan. Council’s heritage listing ensures that any Development Application (DA) for the site must be accompanied with a quality Conservation Management Plan to dictate suitable development outcomes that preserve the site’s heritage. It is believed that this has also been provided to the Department of Planning. I will seek to work with the University and the State Government to achieve good outcomes for the site, however it remains to be seen if the State and the University are willing to face local resident scrutiny. CITY’S SUPPORT FOR CHAUVELOn Monday night, Council unanimously resolved to gives in principle support for a rental subsidy to any potential lessee of the Chauvel Cinemas in Paddington to help maintaining opportunities for new Australian films, quality art house cinema, cinematheque programming and other cinema cultural activities. The resolution reflects Council’s concern about the future of the Chauvel and its role in the cultural life of the City. As the Chauvel’s landlord, the City is also concerned that it does not fall into disuse. The Australian Film Institute (AFI) will cease operating the Chauvel on 30 September. The AFI decided not to renew its lease on the cinemas after a feasibility study found that it would require a substantial subsidy to operate the theatre or risk estimated losses of approximately $285,000 per annum. The City agreed to waive the AFI’s rent for the period 1 July to 30 September, to enable it to honour existing bookings and organise an orderly exit. The City has also contacted the AFI’s sub-tenants, all of whom are involved in screen culture, and assured them that they can continue in their tenancy after the AFI vacates, while the future of the cinema is being determined. I hope that the City’s in principle support for a rental subsidy will encourage the government film agencies and the private sector to provide the necessary financial support for the Chauvel to continue its contribution to the City’s cultural life. BELVOIR STREET THEATRE UPGRADE GETS GO AHEADCouncil has given the go ahead for the refurbishment of the Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills. The upgrade will include a new entrance, additional foyer space and new roof and retain the existing tree on the site. The Theatre withdrew its earlier development application which would have led to greater height, bulk, scale and overshadowing on adjacent residents. Belvoir Street has instead purchased a building on the corner of Elizabeth and Belvoir Streets which it proposes to develop as a rehearsal studio and administration centre. EVENT ALERT!
WWW.CLOVERMOORE.COMClover's eNews is a regular update to keep the community informed on important issues, events and campaigns. To join the free email subscription list, email clover@clovermoore.com with SUBSCRIBE eNEWS in the subject and your name, email address and suburb in the body of the email. You can also subscribe here on line. — Clover Moore, Independent Member for Bligh |
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