“The
Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, has written to me at the eleventh hour
seeking increased Floor Space Ratio (FSR) controls for the CUB site and the
inclusion of a Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) affordable housing levy in the
draft Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA)”.
“The
Minister’s late intervention threatens to increase height and density on the
site; to derail negotiations on the VPA; and to compromise the community
benefits for residents, including the proposed a 5,000 square metre public park
and $2.5 million community centre, causing uncertainty for residents and resulting
in Fosters backing away from the agreement with City.”
The State
Government has ratified Sartor’s actions and set up a Stakeholder Reference
Plan made up of residents and local business people to adequately represent
community views on the development of the site.
A
delegation from a coalition of Chippendale resident action groups was invited
to meet the minister. A member of the delegation, Jeanette Brokman, told the
South Sydney Herald, “The key issues we raised were the extent and scale of
development, and an undertaking from the Minister to honour Council’s previous
commitments to the community (open space, the promised 5,000 square metre park
and community facilities). We are also seeking genuine community engagement,
with panel meetings to be convened in early August and a public meeting to
follow.”
Jeanette
said there remain some major concerns.
In
response, the Minister gave his undertaking in relation to the CUB Park.
The Minister also said that he did not want to see high-rise slums with high
street walls, providing a commitment to design excellence over gross Floor
Space Ratio (FSR).
To achieve
this, the minister will use a “Concept Plan Approval Process” to open up the
consultation process for the development. The Minister hopes this will attract
developers seeking to benefit the community. He also mentioned putting in place
specific controls for parcels of land and is considering using design
competitions as part of the approval process. Residents remain concerned that
the scale and height of the development will be increased and key heritage
buildings will be lost.
MAJOR
CONCERNS
- A negative response by the
State Government in relation to sustainable parking which is seen as vital
to improving residential amenities and preventing traffic gridlock. - A tight timetable for the
process, with the Minister looking to get out a proposal by September and
a public exhibition targeted for the year end – raising questions about
the transparency of debate around the plans, with only 6 – 8 weeks allowed
for the Stakeholder Reference Panel to meet and provide feedback. - A negative response by the
State Government to additional open space which is desired by residents.
Even with the provision of a 5,000 square metre park, Chippendale will
still have the lowest open space in Sydney
– only 20% of minimum standard for the City. - A negative response by the
State Government to consider land acquisition in Wellington Street, which immediately
adjoins the CUB site and could allow an innovative approach to reduce
density and better integrate the site. - What is the amount of the RWA
levy?
[South
Sydney Herald August 2006]