Caretaker’s cottage falls

After a standoff lasting several weeks the majority of the caretaker’s cottage at Rushcutters Bay tennis courts has finally fallen beneath the workers hammer.

Onlookers watched as contractors demolished the majority of the cottage Monday.

“The cottage at the end of the working day was basically just rubble,” a protester said.

“Except for the kitchen and part of the dining/lounge room which are still standing.”

The cottage has been demolished to make way for a $8.3 million redevelopment of the Rushcutters Bay Park and tennis facilities.

In statements advocating the development Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the removal of the cottage would increase open space and “provide new tennis courts west of Waratah Street for the whole community.”

She said the cottage had “no heritage value” and that the community had been extensively consulted on the redevelopment over the last decade.

Her claims were debated by a number of protesters and councillors whose actions caused a split in Council with voting on a Lord Mayoral minute to move the demolition ahead resulting in a five-to-five tie.

Ms Moore used her deciding vote to break the tie in favour of the redevelopment of the site and cottage’s demolition.

Despite the finality of the demolition protesters were still angered by the move and informed City News removal of the cottage may also clear the way for the installation of a new electricity substation in Waratah Street contradicting the Lord Mayor’s claims about open space.

“Apparently regulations require sub-stations to be at least 5 metres from a building,” they said.

“With The Cottage in place it would have to be built 5 metres from the Cottage, hence the [alternate] choice of the location near the parking sign.”

“However, now that the land where the Cottage presently stands will be ‘open space’ under Clover Moore’s plans, the Electricity people will build the substation on the lawn area.

“This puts the sub-station fairly and squarely in the park.”

By Simon Black