Resolution
from the Public Meeting at The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day Sunday
17th August 2008.
This broad
public meeting of NSW citizens calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Notice
to Quit and any threat of eviction of Wrought Artsworks from the heritage
Eveleigh Locomotive Blacksmiths workshop in order that discussions can be
undertaken on the best way to preserve and manage all railway heritage locations, equipment and
rolling stock within the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops in perpetuity. These
discussions should also focus on achieving a National Heritage
listing.
Given the potential
conflict in this matter between Frank Sartor’s roles as Minister for Planning,
Minister for Redfern Waterloo, (including the Australian Technology Park), and
Minister responsible for the NSW Heritage Office, this meeting calls for immediate talks between
the Premier of NSW and representatives of organizations concerned about heritage
protection at Eveleigh. This would be an initial step in a process to determine
the best way to permanently protect the heritage of the current site and during
any proposed or future development of the former Eveleigh
rail-yards.
Organizations
represented in the discussions should include the National Trust, The History
Council, The Powerhouse Museum [Note The Powerhouse Museum was not consulted about and did not agree to inclusion in
the motion], the Institute of Engineers, local
resident groups, the Sydney City
Council, former Eveleigh workers and their unions, bodies currently operating in the sites heritage locations and
Sydney University who is interested in acquiring the North Eveleigh site. Others
may be added if necessary to ensure broad representation of heritage interests
in the site.
In conclusion we call on the trade
union movement, who’s heritage is at stake, to place an interim green ban on the site until talks
with the Premier are held and a process for protecting the area’s heritage is
agreed. So that this is not the sole responsibility of the trade union movement
we also call upon Government, the RWA, the ATP, political parties and businesses
not to enter into any agreements covering the site that would adversely impact
on any remaining heritage on the former Eveleigh railway
site.