Berwick Lane decision riles residents

Darlinghurst residents have lashed out against City of Sydney’s latest decision over the closure of Berwick Lane.

Last week council announced an investigation into the closure of the lane with three different options posed, all of which included restricting pedestrian access to the lane.

Local resident Stephanie Lewis said she was surprised Council voted on the investigation considering the outspoken protests of residents at the previous committee meeting.

“I think it is a major conflict of interest, the Council is both the developer and the approver,” she said.

“More residents have publicly spoken out . . . but they are tired of constantly being ignored by Council.”

City of Sydney is planning to close the lane, which allows residents access to Bourke Street from Palmer Street, in relation to the development of a Council-owned childcare centre in the adjacent block.

“I feel as though we are not being told the whole truth here. Why do they need this space?” Ms Lewis said.

“Is it so they can have enough outdoor area so they can increase the number of children at the childcare centre?”

Jane Anderson, a member of East Sydney Neighbourhood Association, said if Council needs the space to accommodate more children they should develop a roof top playground like the facility on Francis Street.

“It’s outrageous the Council are taking away pedestrian thoroughfare and public space,” she said.

“All three options remove public space and seem overly complicated.”

City of Sydney said the closure of the lane is essential to the safety of the children because it links the childcare centre with the playground and creates more open space.

“Parents, particularly with children under two, are waiting months to find childcare near their home or work,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.

“By expanding the community based childcare on that site on Bourke Street, we could go some way to reducing that wait.”

City of Sydney did not respond to questions of whether they had considered a roof top development.

Ms Lewis criticised the option to open an alternate walkway for residents on the north side of the childcare centre.

“The heritage aspect aside, is this feasible? Will it be wide enough as an escape route for residents if there is an emergency in the lane?” she said.

“If so does this mean they take more land from in front of houses in the laneway on the southern side, so they can get their required space per child?”

Pending the results of the investigation Berwick Lane is set to be closed in mid 2012 with the childcare development proposed to start in 2013.