The new owners of the Carlton United Brewery site plan to
lodge demolition applications next month.
The 5.7 hectare brewery site was sold in July to Singapore based
developers, Fraser’s Property Group for $208 million.
Chippendale residents remain concerned that the result will
be massive overdevelopment of the area.
“The developers have paid so much money for the site
that financially they’ve really got no option but to develop it to its absolute
maximum allowed extent to get a return on their investment, which is a tragedy
for Sydney,”
said David Pocklington, co-convener
of Chippendale Residents Interest Group.
After properly developers AustraLand pulled out of the
project in 2005, citing complications over planning approvals, Planning
Minister Frank Sartor seized control
of the site from Sydney City Council.
An $800 million concept plan for the site was approved by
the Minister in February this year.
Earlier in the year, Sydney City Council aided a community
legal challenge, questioning the ecologically sustainable development
principles in approving the concept plan. The challenge was dismissed.
After a recent meeting with the developers, the Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced that green initiatives would
be pursued by the Fraser’s Property Group.
Chippendale residents don’t share the Lord Mayor’s
confidence.
“Despite all the nice talk about being environmentally
friendly and aiming for green buildings and all the other guff that developers
go on with, we’re going to end up with a gross over-development of the
site,” Mr Pocklington said.
According to Chippendale resident Diane Jardine, the
development could be a good opportunity.
“I think it would be fantastic to have an area that is
a mix of cafes and shops. It will make that part of Chippendale come alive. But
if they build big office blocks what will that offer the community?” she
said.
Elton Consulting, hired by Fraser’s to develop a
communication plan between the developers and Chippendale residents will
distribute a newsletter to residents in the coming weeks.
They are also responsible for a dedicated website (www.frasersbroadway.com.au) and
organising community information sessions.
David Pocklington
said that residents will try to maintain good relations with the new owners.
“We will continue to discuss issues with them about
where improvements can be applied, because what’s been approved so far is just
a broad concept plan,” he said.
The concept plan includes a 5000 square metre public park
and provisions for public art installations.
Trish Oakley, a spokesperson for Elton Consulting said that
because of its history as a brewery, the site is to an extent contaminated.
“As a result, construction is likely to be more than one year away,”
she said.
Mr Pocklington believes there will be opportunity to lobby
about individual sections of the plan as each one is due for construction.
“We will certainly try to continue to do that,” he
said, “not just on behalf of the Chippendale community but indeed the
wider community.”
The owners have recently launched an application for a 5000
square meter public park to be completed ahead of schedule. If successful they
will begin works in early 2008.
Photo: There are mixed reactions from residents about the
overhaul of the Carlton Brewery site.
Source: University
of Technology Precinct
South Sydney Edition Issue 4/2007 page 13.
Publications from the UTS School of Journalism can be
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