The Redfern Waterloo
Authority (RWA) plans massive changes in Redfern/Darlington that will
dramatically increase building heights and densities without guaranteeing improved
infrastructure, open space, public domain, community facilities or transport.
I urge you to make a
submission before the deadline at 5pm, Friday 14 April 2006.
Read the plans: Built
Environment Plan: www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/publications/reports.htm
State
Environmental Planning Policy: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/drafts.asp
…or
phone 9202 9100, or email redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au
for a copy.
Write to: The
Redfern-Waterloo Authority, PO Box
3332, Redfern NSW 2016
What are
the BEP and SEPP?
The
RWA draft Built
Environment Plan (BEP) and State Environmental
Planning Policy (SEPP) promise “a strategic planning
framework to facilitate the area’s economic growth”, but they’re basically about
development. The plan differs little from the ill-conceived 2003 “RED Strategy”.
Planning
controls will be more generous for eight mainly publicly owned sites. These
are the North and South Eveleigh railyards (up to 16 storeys), Australian
Technology Park, Eveleigh Street precinct (including The Block), Redfern
Railway Station including Gibbons and Regent Streets (up to 18 storeys), Redfern
Public School (up to seven storeys), Court House commercial), old Police
Station (six storeys) and Rachel Forster Hospital (medium density housing).
Despite
glossy “artist’s impression” images of Lawson Square without multiple lanes of
traffic and Redfern Railway Station redeveloped as a Town Centre, there is little detail
about how and if these visions can be achieved. There
is nothing about protection of heritage buildings and, despite 18,000 new jobs
and 2,000 new residences predicted, there will be a net loss of open space,
including the existing Marion Street Park rezoned for 18 storey development.
The
only sure thing will be that the generous planning controls are
written into law via the SEPP.
What’s in
the RWA Plan?
- Redfern Railway Station: The Plan
proposes a new Town Centre based on the Railway Station, with buildings up
to 18 storeys proposed for Regent and Gibbons Streets, destroying views, sun
access and existing open space in Marian Street. There is no funding
or time frame. - Eveleigh Street and The Block: New height
limits between three and five stories imply demolition of all existing housing
and warehousing in the area. It will be difficult for the Aboriginal
Housing Company (AHC) to realise its Pemulwuy Project under the new controls,
which allow for only 30 homes, instead of the 62 planned by the AHC. - Eveleigh North: An “iconic”
building up to 16 stories is proposed, with new three-storey height limits
along Wilson Street
and new height limits over heritage buildings implying demolition or major
change. There is no information on protecting nearby residents from traffic
and other impacts, and the Darlington
Village local plans
are likely to be overridden. - South Eveleigh: New height limits up to 12 stories are
proposed, with new business uses near existing homes, and new height
limits over heritage buildings that imply demolition. - Rachel Forster Hospital: The Plan provides for residential
development, with the site probably sold to a private developer. No
consideration is given to public open space on the site or important
community facilities that have been identified as needed. - Court House and Police Station: The allowed
maximum height of six stories seems to mean demolition of the police
station, with the heritage Court House overshadowed. Homes in Turner and
Pitt Streets could lose sun access. - Redfern Public School site: Serviced
apartments or a hotel will be allowed, with four storey height limits
opposite two storey terraces in George
Street. Current open space is not guaranteed through
rezoning. - Australian Technology Park: Nine to 11 storey development is
proposed that massively exceeds the height of the current railway sheds,
which are only about six stories.
Redfern and Waterloo
Department of Housing properties are listed for
consideration in Stage 2 of the plan – after the March 2007 election.
The Draft
Plan will:
- Reduce existing residential amenity: increased
building heights proposed are out of scale and character for area, and
extend CBD-style office blocks into Redfern; - Bring more people without new
infrastructure: the SEPP guarantees new development controls,
but not improved open space, public domain, transport, or services to deal
with growth; and - Threaten public assets and heritage: Eveleigh
Rail Yards, Redfern
Public School,
Redfern Court House, conservation areas and heritage streetscapes are
designated for development.
What the
RWA Must Do
The RWA must not proceed
with the Draft Plan and SEPP until it has completed:
- The
proposed affordable
housing and development
contributions plans; - A Transport strategy with funded
plans for upgrading and expanding Redfern Railway Station; - A Public domain and open space strategy to ensure
adequate, high quality public space; - An Infrastructure plan including
transport services and open space; - A detailed heritage review to ensure
protection of heritage at each of the strategic sites; - A review of proposed height limits to better
protect sun access, views and heritage; - A consultation plan, including
public tenants affected by “stage 2” redevelopment; and - An implementation plan that
coordinates the Built Environment Plan with the RWA Employment and
Enterprise Plan, and Human Services Plan.
The proposed development is
extensive and cashes in on public land sales, with no guarantee that vital
infrastructure and service improvements will be provided. I urge you to make a submission.
Yours
sincerely
Clover
Moore MP
Independent Member for
Bligh
electorate
office 58 Oxford
Street Paddington NSW 2021 Member for BLIGH
phone
02-9360 3053 • fax 02-9331 6963 • www.clovermoore.com • email bligh@parliament.nsw.gov.au