Support gathers to challenge ATP sale
Image: Technology Park in Eveleigh
By LEXY AKILLAS
Opposition to the NSW Government’s proposal to sell the Australian Technology Park (ATP) has gained significant momentum.
Local councillors and politicians have voiced their concerns about the sale, claiming it will restrict the growth of Sydney’s startup community and the technology industry.
The government’s proposal allows funds from the sale to further develop UrbanGrowth’s Central to Eveleigh Transformation Program.
Opponents have argued that the development of Central to Eveleigh corridor will result in the loss of heritage buildings and sites.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore told City Hub of her concern for businesses as well as the local community following the privatisation.
“The local community and the City of Sydney have significant concerns about the sale of ATP, which may put at risk a clutter of innovative businesses, public access to the site for the local community and heritage buildings,” Clr Moore said.
The ATP is currently home to over 100 tenants in science, technology, communications and consulting businesses. It also facilitates many conferences and exhibitions, spanning the fashion, health and travel industry.
Greens Newtown MPJ enny Leong also disagreed with the sale, citing the ATP as a part of Sydney’s industrial heritage.
“The ATP has significant value to local, national and also international heritage,” Ms Leong said.
“We are in a time when we should be protecting green space. The last thing we should be doing is handing our park over to private interest,” she said.
In May 2015, Ms Leong put in a notice of motion to halt the sale of ATP, and has been working on collecting online signatures for an expression of interest to Urban Growth NSW.
“We are working really closely with the community and locals in the area but also the broader NSW community, who are strong allies in protecting our industrial heritage,” she said.
“One of the key actions is calling on the Minister for Planning and the Heritage Minister to take action and realise that this site should not be sold off.”
“The government is not looking at the ATP site holistically. I think we need to recognise that it was a site for innovation when it was the train yards and we need to ensure that it remains a place of innovation.”
The NSW Government has said the Central to Eveleigh Transformation Program aims to “further build upon the strengths of the area over the next 30 years”.
A statement from UrbanGrowth said the project aims to “transform” the “under-used government owned land in and around the rail corridor”.
“The program aims to continue to provide access to public transport, education and health facilities and job opportunities,” the statement read.
The area to be developed contains 13 hectares of heritage buildings, including the former Eveleigh Railyards.
Scott Farquhar, Co-Founder of Australian Software Company Atlassian, also expressed his concerns over the sale of the ATP to The Australian Financial Review earlier this month, outlining how he felt it will continue to hinder generations to come.
