ANZAC tradition under construction

This year’s ANZAC Day service in Union Square will herald the end of an era for the unique site, soon to be redeveloped under the new City Metro scheme.

Construction of the Metro will begin in 2010 and Union Square will host the new underground Pyrmont Metro Station. The proposed plans place an entry and exit point at the top and bottom of the Square, threatening the livelihood of its retail outlets and potentially forcing the Pyrmont War Memorial to relocate.

“It’s a wonderful community space that a lot of people use. I have no issue with having a metro, but to destroy the square is just not thinking things through.” said Union Square resident Roberta Mears, one of many concerned locals who oppose the Square as the site for the new station.

Together with community groups like Pyrmont Progress, Mears is advocating the area in front of Star City as a better location. “If the current plans are carried through, the Square will be a construction zone for four years, so why would anyone decide to come and shop here? It would affect the lives of a lot of people, whereas if the station was moved just a block down, it would affect virutually no one.”

“The CBD Metro project is still at an application stage, feedback from the community is being assessed and there is the possibility that further alignment and construction-related changes will occur,” said a Sydney Metro spokesperson.

However, Mears says that community consultation has been limited and often inaccessible. ‘They’ll hold an information session but it could be spead over several hours and there’s no real voice,” she said. Currently, Sydney Metro is welcoming feedback through an online community forum at: http://www.sydneymetro.net.au/yoursay

Pastor Robin Davies of the Mustard Seed Uniting Church in Ultimo, is concerned about how the redeveloped square will cater for the community events they regularly hold there, like the annual Christmas Carols and ANZAC Day service.

“It’s definitely a community service, popular for locals and also people who work in the area. We usually get over 400 people coming.” said Pastor Davies, of their upcoming ANZAC Day commemoration. As is tradition, The Uniting Church will conduct an 8.30am service in the Square, followed by morning tea at Bar Tino, also in the Square.  The Uniting Church’s Moderator will be delivering the service, the University of Sydney Regiment will perform and Lord Mayor Clover Moore is set to attend.

Central to the service is the Pyrmont War Memorial, dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War One. In response to concerns for the future of the Memorial, a spokesperson from Sydney Metro said “Sydney Metro has made contact with both the City of Sydney, the registered owners of the Union Square war memorial, and the RSL… Sydney Metro would work with these organisations and other stakeholders to identify the best way to safeguard the memorial.“