Planning outcries fall deaf on property giant’s ears

Chippendale residents yelled at, and argued with, developers of the former Carlton United Brewery site at a community meeting last Wednesday, but Frasers Property maintain it was a success.

Locals insist the proposed Broadway site will greatly increase traffic and pedestrian congestion around Chippendale. But Frasers’ plans were approved by the NSW government.

“There has been a lot of opportunities for us to come to things like that but that doesn’t mean that they’re actually listening,” said Chippendale resident Michael Harris.

“If you’re spending 25 to 30 years living in the city, it’s very important that developers consider these aspects of people’s lives.”

Mr Harris said his biggest concern was the impact of greater numbers of residents and commercial office workers on the area.

“The impact of pedestrians from Notre Dame and the University of Technology, Sydney, has gone up tremendously. It’s literally a war zone between Harris Street and Kent Street.”

Nick Wolff, chief operating officer of Frasers Property, said he was happy with the meeting and its large turnout.

“I think it’s a reflection of the amount of community consultation we’ve done. I look forward to the next one,” Mr Wolff said.

“We’re moving from the overall concept scale to intimate details.”

A Chippendale Residents Interest Group spokesperson said locals should have expected Frasers would not listen to their concerns as the plans were already approved.

“The meeting was really just to inform the community…but people who use Broadway, and are enjoying the older site and the views, are going to be shocked by the sheer size of the building once it goes up.”

Chippendale commercial building owner Teah Browne said local streets were dangerous enough without an increase in residents and workers.

“They need to make a profit, that’s what it’s all about. I still maintain that there will be a huge accident on that [Abercrombie Street] corner,” Ms Browne said.

Frasers’ plans include a massive campus-style building with one of the largest floor plans in Australia, but Mike Horne of Turf Design said the site would also include many aesthetically pleasing elements and spaces.

“The public domain aspect is vital because the outdoor environment…forms the central public experience of the place,” Mr Horne said.

“We’ve tried to create a very simple park, it’s very unprogrammed…It’s a very eclectic place, Chippendale. What we’re trying to do is pick up on some of the key [plant] species.”

Work on the building is expected to begin in 2010, with the completion of the main park in the development scheduled for December of that year.