City Plan is negligent says community

City of Sydney Council has delivered an ‘underwhelming’ response to the Pyrmont/Ultimo community’s submissions to the draft city plan.

Community groups have responded with frustration after the Council sent letters to key community members last Friday responding to suggestions for the future of the area.

Convenor of Pyrmont Action, Elizabeth Elenius, has criticised the Council for neglecting community consultation and lacking action on important local issues.

“We have been working since January 2006 but there has been no consultation besides us writing letters periodically,” she said.

“We would just like to know that the council will commit to working with the community to fill the social infrastructure gaps… not just in Pyrmont but to the wider community.”

The original community submissions expressed concern over the Council’s commitment to community facilities and social infrastructure but the Council’s response last week detailed few commitments to the suggested projects.

One area in contention is the Council owned depot on the corner of Wattle and Fig Street in Ultimo, which both Ultimo Village Voice and Pyrmont Action marked as a site for redevelopment.

Council CEO Kim Woodbury wrote in the Council response: “In regard to the future of the Wattle/Fig Street Depot site, a master plan for the precinct containing the site is presently being developed. This will be reported to Council in due course.”

This comment came as a disappointment to the members of Pyrmont action who had been fighting for development on this site since 2006, after they had developed a plan for the area at the Council’s request.

A similar response was written by Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP to Ultimo Village Voice.

Despite years of community activism and council involvement on the Wattle street site, the letter said: “The City is currently considering the future of this complex and challenging site. Matters such as appropriate height controls, urban design and heritage will all be examined in detail. There will also be appropriate community consultation. I have asked City staff to keep you updated on this matter.”

Local resident Leone Huntsman said the Wattle Street depot is crucial for providing social infrastructure for the growing population.

“There just isn’t enough public space. The Wattle street site is perfect to provide the kind of facilities those people [residents of Pyrmont, Ultimo and Glebe] need.”

Ms Elenius said the Council often tries to do too much and if residents were more involved there would be more community activity, they just need the space.

“Their cultural mindset is: we will do it for you but providing we have the space and facilities we would like to contribute ourselves.”

Some of the community’s recently organised events include the Pyrmont Sings choir and the local book exchange.

For involvement in local cultural activities contact the Pyrmont Community Centre on 9298 3134 and pyrmontcc@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or the Ultimo Community Centre on 9298 3111 or ultimocc@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.