Surry Hills farmers’ market in dispute

It might have been part of the architects’ vision for the site, but some residents of the St Margaret’s complex in Bourke Street Surry Hills oppose a farmers’ market proposed for its plaza every Saturday morning.

“The plaza is surrounded on all sides by residential buildings, some with bedrooms on Level One and only metres above where the market is planned,” says David Lonsdale, an executive member of the owners’ corporation of the ‘Ivy’ block within the complex. “This type of operation is best held in locations away from residences, such as parks, schools, etc.”

“As the St Margarets Plaza is all hard surfaces, with residential buildings surrounding it on all sides, noise amplifies and reflects around the complex, increasing in its intensity. A market held every Saturday in the Plaza will subject all residents facing the Plaza with objectionable levels of noise,” he said.

On the other hand, the plaza was conceived by its architects as a community hub.

“There isn’t really anything else like this in Sydney but there are lots of places in Europe that have interesting spaces like a bocce court in between two buildings or a laneway that comes alive with people and market stalls,” says one of the site’s architects, Adam Haddow, on the Renovation Planning website.

Surry Hills residents Jacqueline Briggs and Cathy Wills are behind the market proposal and have lodged a development application with the City of Sydney.

“We looked at three sites in Surry Hills,” said Ms Wills, “and the St Margaret’s site was superior.”

“The site is in the heart of Surry Hills, and farmers who face a drive of an hour and a half have good access with an underground carpark and a goods lift,” she said.

“We are passionate about Surry Hills and want to promote sustainable food sources.” We want to provide local residents with access to quality, farm fresh produce at moderate prices.”

Ms Wills points out that Surry Hills was originally designated as the market garden precinct for Sydney in the early 1800s. She also said the St Margaret’s management committee supported the proposal.

However Mr Lonsdale has other objections.

“There are no public toilets in the complex, and the small toilets on Level One of the Ivy building, for cafe patrons’ use, can only be accessed with a security code,” he said.

Sufficient retail stores already exist, he added.

“Woolworths is a major tenant in St Margaret’s, and a tenant of the City of Sydney. They already supply fresh fruit and vegetables, including organically grown produce, as do Thomas Dux, Maloney’s, the Crown Street Deli and Hudson’s Butchers, all of which are, at the most, within a couple of minutes walk from St Margaret’s.”

Ms Wills says vendors will be strictly limited to growers selling their own produce, although the DA also proposes space for artists and artisans to sell their own work. Stall space would also be set aside for community use and education about sustainable food practices. The initial target is for bout 30 stalls overall.

Mr Lonsdale believes Taylor Square, with its its own public toilet, would be a better location for the markets. Andrew Duckmanton, President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership, also thinks Taylor Square would be suitable, centrally located between Paddington, East Sydney, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills.

But Ms Wills says the logistics of access and parking there would be a lot more difficult for the vendors.

The proposal will remain on exhibition at Council until 9 November.

by Michael Gormly