The former SMDA CEO Roy Wakelin-King has been replaced as the head of
UGDC. The old SMDA board has disappeared and long-term and respected
human service and community liaison person Julie Parsons was also a
casualty of the restructure. Administrative staff and those working on
planning matters for BEP2 and North Eveleigh have been retained to
deliver current projects.
The Australian Technology Park (ATP) remains a subsidiary of the UGDC
with its own board answering to the UGDC CEO. The ATP still has blocks
for redevelopment justifying its continued link to the UGDC. It is
likely, however, that in time the ATP will be moved out of the
re-development stable. It may have a better long-term fit in the new
Government Property Authority or with bodies like SHFA and Olympic Park.
Heritage will continue to be handled through the ATP for that site or
through the UGDC directly for North Eveleigh. In a statement to the SSH
a spokesperson said: “Any works on the site need to ensure the very
important heritage qualities of the site are respected and where
possible enhanced. UGDC is also liaising with Carriageworks and RailCorp
(the owner of the site) to facilitate integration of works and
activities at the site.”
Redfern Station is not formally on the UGDC agenda although they will
continue to assist Transport for NSW on this issue. A recent
parliamentary committee suggested development over railway lines should
be referred to UrbanGrowth but to date this has not happened.
Community input to the UGDC will continue as it has previously under
the SMDA. The historical information on the SMDA website will be
preserved and rolled into a SMDA portal to allow easy access to material
relevant to the local community. While there are no plans for a
designated local advisory committee the UGDC will continue to respond to
issues raised and it will undertake engagement with stakeholders at key
stages in developments.
The change is part of a wider amalgamation of the SMDA and Landcom to form what is being generically called UrbanGrowth NSW.
In reality it is two organisations with similar names, different
functions and a highly complex structure. The Landcom part continues to
operate as a State owned corporation under a new trading name of
UrbanGrowth NSW (UGNSW). Landcom will continue to use its statutory
Landcom name in its retail land sale business which will wind down over
time as it completes the delivery of the governments 10,000 home site
program.
UGNSW is currently seen as an implementation body where necessary
partnering with developers to deliver projects. UGDC is seen as taking a
more strategic focus on growth centres, setting planning frameworks and
compulsorily acquiring sites if needed. Strategic functions already
exist within Landcom so over time some functions are likely to shift
between organisations.
The two organisations are held together by a common CEO, currently
Landcom MD Sean O’Toole. When he is at UGNSW he is responsible to the
UGNSW board chaired by John Brogden but when he is at the UGDC he is
responsible directly to Minister Hazzard. A “Chinese Wall” separates the
organisations but UGDC has a service agreement with UGNSW to undertake
some functions for it. Sean O’Toole has announced he will not renew his
contract when in expires mid-year and a search is on for a replacement
for this pivotal role.
Information on Redfern Waterloo side can be found in a transition factsheet on www.smda.nsw.gov.au or www.ugdc.nsw.gov.au. More broadly consult Ministerial Memorandum M2013-01 on www.dpc.nsw.gov.au and www.urbangrowth.nsw.gov.au. Note there is no community portal on the UGNSW website as this body will primarily deal with government and businesses.
Source: www.southsydneyherald.com.au/urbangrowth-in-redfern-waterloo/#.URHxLGciuN4