City of Sydney Council has announced plans to renovate the Juanita Nielsen
Community Centre located in Woolloomooloo.
The plan is part of the push to inject additional recreational, cultural and
community facilities in the City East area.
The upgrade is being made in light of the Centre’s increased usage in recent
times, making it necessary to meet the demands of residents and other users.
A Council spokesperson said: “The City of Sydney has undertaken extensive consultation with the community for the refurbishment of the Juanita Nielsen Community Centre and this consultation is ongoing.
“The Centre offers an extensive range of services and programs that are highly valued by the community and the City will ensure they are still available while the refurbishment takes place. The City is working to find alternative premises for these services and programs.”
However, President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Conservation
Society, Andrew Woodhouse said the plan is an election stunt by Ms Moore.
“Residents should know that any upgrade may never actually happen or be
finished,” he said.
“We’re still waiting for the Burton St Tabernacle upgrade to finish after eight years with no end in sight.”
He also said Council had not put up specific plans or heritage statement for
anyone to comment on. “The Juanita Nielsen project requires a heritage impact statement, and a conservation management plan according Council’s own recommended site management, but these have not eventuated.”
The Centre is named after community activist, Juanita Nielsen, who disappeared in July 1975 and is believed to have been murdered.
Council has owned the heritage-listed Centre since 1984 and currently runs an out-of-school-hours children program, a youth centre and many other recreational programs.
The plan will expand services for seniors and includes an improved art
room, gymnasium and venues for resident hiring.
Mr Woodhouse said there was actually no need for the upgrade, as the Centre
has not reached its capacity yet.
“[The Centre] is not so heavily used that there’s a crush of people,” he said. “So I have a feeling that [Clover Moore] is holding out a gold carrot for the local residents that they never asked for.
“Not that they would not appreciate more facilities, but will they ever be built? And what would happen during the eight years of construction?”
Council has not disclosed the cost of the project because of concerns it may impact upon future tender submissions. The project is currently in its tendering process. The successful bidder will be announced in late 2013 with construction due to begin in early 2014.
