Clover supports Sydney Uni plan for North Everleigh

Council last Monday passed a Lord Mayoral Minute endorsing Sydney University’s plan for the North Everleigh site.

The university proposes to build student housing on the site, a preferred option for both resident groups and Council who wish to see it used for public benefit.

The Redfern-Waterloo Authority’s (RWA) master plan currently proposes a series of buildings ranging from four to 16 storeys high to accomodate dwellings, commercial space and retail.

Spokesperson for community group REDWatch, Geoff Turnbull, said the university purchasing the site was a “preferable option”.

“There is general support within the community that the university purchasing the site would be a better outcome,” he said.

“It would have a smaller impact on the surrounding community than if the concept plan was built by a developer for commercial and residential uses.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was “deeply concerned” that the RWA’s existing plan paid little respect to the unique historic qualities of the publicly owned site, which would essentially become subdivided and privatised.

“The former Eveleigh Railway Workshops are recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a heritage landmark,” she said.

“Under the authority’s current plans, the existing heritage will be compromised.

“There are [also] no sustainability provisions built in. There will be substantial traffic impacts … proposed open space will be fragmented and there is little detail on the affordable housing provisions.”

Cr Moore said it appeared the RWA was under pressure to maximise the returns on the land without considering the best use of the site or the impacts of the development.

“I want to ensure that development and future use of North Eveleigh produces the best results for the site itself, for the residents and businesses … and for Sydney as a whole,” she said.

“[Therefore] I support Sydney University’s proposal in-principle and believe it should be seriously considered by the RWA and the State Government.

“Sydney University … are committed to offering the State Government a market rate for the site – so the Government has no financial reason not to agree to the proposal.”

Greens Councillor Chris Harris welcomed the university’s plan, adding that it presented an “ideal opportunity” to create a community with a low reliance on cars.

“What an ideal situation – to have a development that’s almost car free,” he said.

“Most students don’t have cars, it’s right next to the railway line, very close to public transport, it’s within walking distance of the city [and] within walking distance of Sydney University.

“If they make it a development for student housing … and minimised the impact on the local area, particularly through motor cars I think it’s supportable.”

Labor Councillor Meredith Burgmann said she also supported the university’s plan but was doubtful it would end up being a viable lodging for students.

“Unless it’s going to be subsidised, places in that really prime location are simply not going to be cheap enough for students to live in,” she said.

She also criticised Cr Harris’ car free proposal, saying a lack of parking spaces would only create traffic stress on surrounding streets as people looked for a spot.

“Chris has, I think, a reasonably unrealistic view of how people are going to live in the future,” she said.

“I’m not in favour of increasing traffic or increasing people’s use of cars but we have to accept that at the moment people have cars, and to artificially make it harder and harder for them to park is just crazy.”