The project in brief
The National Indigenous
Development Centre is a project of the Indigenous Land Corporation, a Federal
Statutory Authority. The vision for the Centre is as a facility to nurture
sporting excellence and personal and leadership development among Australia’s
Indigenous community. The Centre will provide sporting and educational
facilities to be used by Indigenous groups from across the country. Many of the
facilities will be available to the local community on a user pays basis.
National Indigenous
Development Centre Approval and Timetable
The Indigenous Land
Corporation welcomes the decision of the Minister for Planning to approve the
development of the National Indigenous Development Centre on the site of the
old Redfern Public School. The Indigenous Land
Corporation (ILC) is now finalising the tender documents to be used
to select a list of builders. The call for tenders will go out
shortly. The selection process will take a number of months and it is likely
that a builder will be signed up in the first quarter of 2008. Construction is
likely to commence in the second quarter of 2008, with an
approximate construction program of 18 months.
Conditions
The Minister for Planning
attached a number of conditions to the project approval, including:
- An experienced conservation architect must be
engaged in the design, development and construction of existing heritage
buildings on site. - Alterations, demolition and new penetrations to
existing heritage-listed buildings are to be kept at a minimum. - A test excavation must be undertaken on the site
by a qualified archaeologist prior to construction with respect to
Aboriginal and European heritage.
Community Engagement
ILC will continue to ensure
that the local community is kept informed over coming months. Updates will be
emailed and posted out on a regular basis, and the on-site signage will be kept
up to date with latest news.
Shortly before construction
starts ILC will hold an open house information event on site. This will be
attended by the project team,
including representatives from the ILC and the builder, and
will be an opportunity for the local community to learn about how the Centre
will look, how it will be used and managed, the range of facilities available
for community use, and how the construction is to be conducted. It will also
provide an opportunity for questions and feedback from the community. This
event will be open to everyone with an interest in the project. Further details
will be provided closer to the event.
If you have questions or
would like additional information about the NIDC, please contact Stuart Waters at Twyford Consulting at the details
listed below.
For more information on the Indigenous Land
Corporation see http://www.ilc.gov.au/site/page.cfm