Image: From Renwick Street carpark entrance facing west to Cope Street (City of Sydney), and Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore
The City of Sydney has unanimously voted in support of turning the Cope St Carpark into an Aboriginal Aged Care centre.
In their council meeting last Monday, Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore, Chair of the City’s Housing for All Working Group, moved the recommendation to review the plans for 49 Cope Street (also known as 98-106 Renwick Street).
The development will include a new facility featuring at least 50 beds for Aboriginal Aged Care. An underground car park will also be constructed on the site, with control remaining in the hands of the council.
A portion of the site will be donated to the nearby Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care, allowing an expansion of the facility.
Councillor Ellsmore described this decision as a “historic opportunity” to transform a council car park in Redfern into a vital community resource.
The aim is to ensure that these plans support the City’s objectives for affordable and diverse housing and align with the Reconciliation Action Plan for Closing the Gap.
Cr Ellsmore stated that the council offered to transfer ownership of the Cope Street car park to an Aboriginal organisation for the token sum of $1. In exchange, the site must be redeveloped and protected as permanent, affordable aged care, and kept in Aboriginal ownership.
“It’s been a long time coming. Local Aboriginal organisations have been seeking Council’s support through a site or partnership for years”, Cr Ellsmore said.
Community Engagement Plans: Aboriginal Aged Care Centre
Cr Ellsmore spoke to City Hub, discussing the plan to engage with the Aboriginal community during this transition period.
“It will be a public expression of interest process, developed following multiple requests from the Aboriginal community for a site in Redfern where Aboriginal aged care can be delivered.
“After the call for Expressions of Interest, the elected Council will consider the feedback received from Aboriginal groups, and decide on the next steps. This ensures that if there isn’t an Aboriginal group ready to go now, Council will have a chance to update the EOI or make other adjustments to ensure the right supports are in place to deliver Aboriginal-controlled aged care,” she said.
When asked how the council could ensure that the facility reflects respect for Aboriginal traditions, Ellsmore told City Hub they were focused on granting land to an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation.
“Aboriginal ownership and control is essential. This land is in the heart of Redfern, nestled between some of the longest-running Aboriginal-community organisations in Australia. Aboriginal communities and organisations are the ones to determine how and what cultural protocols will apply”, Cr Ellsmore said.
This development is designed to address the unique cultural and social needs of these elders, ensuring that their traditions and practices are respected and maintained.
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