I
do not have to buy in to the differences that Mr Domm has with the Sydney
Morning Herald on the article’s accuracy of all points but something should be
said about the thrust of Heralds article that Mr. Domm chooses to ignore. That
point is that it is now obvious that there is a serious bidder for the North Eveleigh site other than the developers who most
likely favour the current concept plan of the RWA that he has played a major
part in steering through to the concept stage of the planning procedure .
For
those who want to see the full story of how the heritage of the site will fair
I suggest they have a close look the RWA’s Built Environment Plan that was
produce shortly after the establishment of the RWA in August 2006 that has
details of 12 heritage locations of the whole Redfern railway precinct (not necessary the total of what the National
Trust’s order covers) and the “concept plan “ as it was presented to the public
over in May and June 2008 and is now in the hands of the Department of
Planning.
Two
article that help follow the process that the RWA has used to downgrade the
heritage of the site overall can be followed in the two article are attached.
Mr Domm’s reference
to my letter (SMH 4th August) I feel ignores the general circumstances of the
Governments response to the heritage of the site since the closing of the
workshop in the mid 1980’s.that I referred to.
Plans
for a technology park, as most who have followed the long running story will
know, always encompassed the idea that such a park would have an economic
component that allow it to function as an economically viable site that main
aim was to produce quality technical research that could be sold commercially
in the Australian or overseas industrial market.
This
aim to produce high quality research rested on number of industrial skill held
in the 100 year old experience of Eveleigh as a prime component to demonstrate
that NSW had a highly respected industrial base. It was originally recognised
that the traditional skills of the workshop could be drawn on to help provide
an untold amount technical capital that had been built up on the site with the
aid of a workforce that had forged the path of Australia’s industrial
development since the 1850’s
This
economic capital of the Eveleigh workshops as a whole (including the Blacksmith
shop) was squandered from the beginning. State Rail’ as the Governments agent,
was keen to close the whole of the workshop on the basis of it being redundant
and an economical drain on the states budget. They it can be said overlooked
the true economic and industrial value of the site and it is demonstrate by mr
Domm’ s effort to turn this issue into a dispute about rent.
According to Mr Domm one blacksmith and a few
apprentices have been able to turn a small section of the industrial plant into
a $1.2 million year decorative metal arts business. Even if Mr Domm’s figures
were right (we don’t know if they are) and the blacksmith has been siting on a
peppercorn rent agreement it raises the question of how this matter has occurred.
Pepper corn rents for important purposes are not uncommon and the blacksmith
concerned has been operating through several Labour Party and Liberal
Governments including that of Bob Carr’s (who launched an open day an open day
in my presents on the site a few years ago. To some this may now be just
history that all of these administrations never collect the rent. I can not
believe that occurred with out some agreement with the land lord. So lets blame the last office boy for
forgetting to tell his boss.
I therefore ask how we as a society should
measure the value of this blacksmith work in current economic terms.
Our merry black smith it appears should be
looked at in broader terms to start with as he is also is acting by agreement
as a guard to machinery (that he does not use) and is possible worth hundreds
of million dollars on the open market to those who would like to sell it.
What
is needed is full details of what Mr Domm may consider as a fair rent deal not
just for our merry blacksmith but for the other heritage areas particularly the
large Erecting Shed one the long term home of 3801 and the paint shop or has he
forgotten both these areas are to have multi store height extensions if his
concept and built environment plans proceed.
He
or someone in the know should make public all deal relating to the site that
have been made over the last 20 years or so that we might see who is pulling
their economic weight on this still public site. As an example I would like to
see exactly what happened to the $300,000 heritage grant in 1997 to be matched
one for one by the technology park that was for conservation, restoration and
interpretation of the blacksmith shop equipment and to teach heritage skills.
In
conclusion Mr Domm fails to answer the main point I raised in defence of the
blacksmith (and 3801 Limited ) standing his ground, that is there was an
agreement to protect the industrial heritage of this site reached between the
“former workforce and the government”
and economic terms for the operation of Eveleigh as a modern day
heritage and technical research site should take this in to account
All
those who are interested in the truth of this mater should take the opportunity
to look at what they can of the whole former workshop site before the jump to
conclusions. This issue will not going away in a hurry – it is a heritage
issue.
Brian Dunnett
Former Eveleigh
Worker
Co- Ordinator of the
Trains of Treasure Exhibition
This reply relates to Robert Domms letter to the SMH www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/statements/2008/080805rwa