Markets to continue during Fitzroy Gardens upgrade

Following popular support for the weekend markets in Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross, the City of Sydney has committed to retaining the markets during the $6 million upgrade of the gardens scheduled for 2010.

“Once a design for Fitzroy Gardens is finalised, through further community consultation, the City would work with the local community and the market operator to minimise any impact on the markets if they are affected,” said a Council spokesperson.

A large majority of locals supported the markets at the first consultation meeting about the upgrade, with 37 comments in the ‘most liked’ category and only ten in the ‘least liked’ camp.

Only the El Alamein Fountain was more popular, with 40 supporting comments.

Of the two weekend markets, the Saturday farmers market was the more popular with the less up-market Sunday Rotary markets drawing some critics but still attracting strong support.

The Rotary markets raise money for charity. Michael Brown, president of Kings Cross Rotary Club, welcomed Council’s commitment although how the markets were to be retained during the upgrade was yet to be revealed.

“All we have heard is that they intend to enable the markets to continue,” he said. “There has been no indication from them as to how or where. It is vital to us for them to continue of course.”

The design for the upgraded gardens has not been finalised after two public meetings and an extensive intercept survey which sought comment on three options designed by Council.

Option C, which involved moving the large central Ficus (fig) tree to one side, was overwhelmingly rejected. The intercept survey came down marginally in favour of Option B followed by Option A which proposed the least amount of change from the present design.

Option B involves changing the layout of the markets from the present centralised cluster to a more spread-out formation with stalls around the perimeter of the park, facing outwards.

Public comments were evenly divided between fans of open space and those who thought the new layout would lose the present community focus of the markets.

Similarly, opinion was divided about opening up the park with more grass. Some liked the idea, others said it would be too hot in summer and become mushy and untidy in rain.

At the first consultation meeting where people wrote comments on sticky notes, 213 described what people liked about the park while only 139 posted complaints.

The things most disliked about the park were the Ibis and their droppings, broken pavers and the nearby Police Station. The upgrade includes no plans for the Ibis or the Police Station, and the broken pavers have been repaired.

A reasonable interpretation of the feedback is that most people in fact want the Heritage-listed gardens left much as they are, even though this option was not available for comment at meetings or in the intercept survey. Nevertheless, while Council has not yet finalised the design, and more consultation is scheduled, it appears determined to go ahead with the project.

by Michael Gormly

This is Part one of a two-part series. Next week: Anatomy of a consultation: Should the upgrade go ahead at all?