Domm quits but questions remain

BY ANGUS THOMPSON
The Redfern community is calling for proper community consultation following the resignation of CEO Robert Domm from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA).

Mr Domm, who is still in charge of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, was dubbed “the Domm-inator” by inner-city residents during his time as general manager of City of Sydney Council under Lord Mayors Frank Sartor and Lucy Turnbull, before parting ways with Clover Moore.
Later, as Planning Minister, Mr Sartor appointed Mr Domm CEO of the RWA.
‘The RWA had a history of keeping the community in the dark about its activities,’ said Geoff Turnbull of Redwatch, a community action group based around Redfern.
“How does the community get the best they can out of the final stages of the RWA to try to ensure we end up with some of the stuff we were promised'” Mr Turnbull asked.
Following the ousting of Frank Sartor from the NSW Government, the fate of the North Eveleigh redevelopment hangs on the decision of new Planning Minister Kristina Keneally.
The fate of the Eveleigh workshops is at the centre of a battle between the RWA, Sydney University and the State Government. While the RWA wants high-rise towers on the site, Sydney University sees a new campus, playing fields and student accommodation.
Mr Turnbull said traffic flow considerations make the university alternative more appealing to residents.
However if the university was to acquire the site, further consultation was needed.

“We can’t go back and unscramble the egg. What we can do is to try and get greater community input into the process.”
Sydney University deputy vice-chancellor, Bob Kotic, said the uni would continue to consult with the local community if its bid was successful.
Following her appointment as Planning Minister, Ms Keneally said community consultation was a priority, however a spokesman for the minister said that adequate community consultation had already been undertaken for the North Eveleigh site.
Ms Keneally announced that the Redfern-Waterloo authority would continue to operate until at least 2011.
The Planning Minister is yet to appoint a new CEO for the RWA, however her spokesman said: “an acting arrangement for the RWA will be arranged following discussions between the minister and the chair of the RWA.”