East Sydney residents still disappointed

Disgruntled residents in Sydney’s Inner East have argued that Council money could have been better spent on upgrading the neighbourhood, but the Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP denied suggestions that ‘East Sydney has been left in the dust’ as reported two weeks ago in City News .

She said the article “failed to highlight the millions of dollars the City of Sydney has spent and is continuing to spend improving buildings, parks, streets and community facilities in and around East Sydney.”

She cited the multi-million dollar renovation of the historic Burton Street Tabernacle into the Eternity Playhouse, a 200-seat theatre with gallery and café.

Designs are also in the development stage for a new $9 million childcare centre on Bourke St to offer more than 45 spaces for toddlers.

But members of the East Sydney Neighborhood Association (ESNA) were not satisfied with the developments.

ESNA member Gundo Frenda has been a resident for more than 20 years.

He cited the Tabernacle development as an example of Council disregarding residents’ aspirations.

In a 50-page submission to Council in 2002, residents proposed a community hub at the intersection of Burton and Palmer Streets.

He argued the cycle way on Bourke St was a waste of Council money.

“The cycle way looks very nice, I must say, but there is hardly ever any bikes on there,” he said.

“There is the public square across from Palmer St that has a number of restaurants.

The Hefron Hall fronts the Albert Sloss Reserve and across the road on Burton St is this Tabernacle,” Mr Frenda said.

“These are all community focused areas and it makes a lot of sense for them to be integrated into a community hub where there is a shared traffic zone. Traffic this way would be a lot slower, that section would be paved and it would be a pleasant community hub.”

The decision to refurbish the Tabernacle and lease it out to commercial arts groups is contrary to the wishes of the community, he said.

“That will attract a whole lot more people well into the night, more traffic, more noise and it’s really so close to Oxford St.”

“They are doing this without addressing the community hub idea. Where are the 200 people that will sit in the theatre going to park? It could have been so much better.”

In response to parking needs, a City of Sydney spokesperson said: “Patrons who want to drive to the Eternity Playhouse will be encouraged to park at the 400-space Riley St parking station, which is used by city office workers during the day and is mostly empty at night.”

An drop-in-centre operating on Bourke St is another residential concern.

A City of Sydney Council spokesperson said the Council has issued Hope Street with an order to cease operating at their Bourke St premises by August.

By Kate Horowitz