James Gorman February 04, 2015
THE PLANNED sell-off of the Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh is raising red flags for residents who fear a potential community asset could be lost to privatisation.
Part of the State Government’s ongoing multi-million dollar sale of public property, expressions of interest were quietly called for the 13.2ha inner city precinct in December last year and closed on Friday.
REDWatch community group spokesman Geoffrey Turnbull said the sale would have serious implications for the area as development planned along the rail corridor from Central to Redfern will significantly increase population density.
“You need to make sure you have places set aside for amenities like schools, preschools, outdoor spaces and other facilities which benefit a community,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The State Government is letting go of a very valuable asset which could be used to meet those needs.
Once you sell that site off you lose the ability to control whether you place a new high school there or a performance space.
“It is just a trade-off to make some quick money.”
POWER PRIVATISATION PLAN PROTESTS IN COOGEE
The sell-off, being managed by Urban Growth NSW, follows a string of revenue-raising sales including the Millers Point public housing and the Glebe Bidura Children’s Court Complex.
Mr Turnbull said there were also concerns for the future of the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshop and its collection of industrial machinery, which is open to the public.
“One of the things the community want to see but don’t think the government can guarantee, is access to the collection after the sale.
“It is all well and good for the new owners to say the collection has been preserved but that’s not good enough if it can never be seen again.”
An UrbanGrowth NSW spokeswoman said existing protections for the historical buildings, items and public access would remain in place if the site were sold to a new owner.
“Any proposal to change existing access would be subject to gaining relevant development approval,” she said
RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/australian-technology-park-sale-concerns-land-needed-for-community-will-end-up-in-developers-hand/story-fngr8h22-1227207855672
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| Prime real estate: Australian Technology Park is in the process of being sold by the State Government. |
Part of the State Government’s ongoing multi-million dollar sale of public property, expressions of interest were quietly called for the 13.2ha inner city precinct in December last year and closed on Friday.
REDWatch community group spokesman Geoffrey Turnbull said the sale would have serious implications for the area as development planned along the rail corridor from Central to Redfern will significantly increase population density.
“You need to make sure you have places set aside for amenities like schools, preschools, outdoor spaces and other facilities which benefit a community,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The State Government is letting go of a very valuable asset which could be used to meet those needs.
 |
| The 13.2ha site currently houses a diverse mix of tenants including commercial and government organisations. |
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| REDWatch community group spokesman Geoffrey Turnbull says the ATP sale will rob the community of valuable future land |
Once you sell that site off you lose the ability to control whether you place a new high school there or a performance space.
“It is just a trade-off to make some quick money.”
POWER PRIVATISATION PLAN PROTESTS IN COOGEE
The sell-off, being managed by Urban Growth NSW, follows a string of revenue-raising sales including the Millers Point public housing and the Glebe Bidura Children’s Court Complex.
Mr Turnbull said there were also concerns for the future of the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshop and its collection of industrial machinery, which is open to the public.
 |
| Head blacksmith Guido Gouverneur at the anvil at Wrought Artworks in the Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh |
“It is all well and good for the new owners to say the collection has been preserved but that’s not good enough if it can never be seen again.”
An UrbanGrowth NSW spokeswoman said existing protections for the historical buildings, items and public access would remain in place if the site were sold to a new owner.
“Any proposal to change existing access would be subject to gaining relevant development approval,” she said
RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/australian-technology-park-sale-concerns-land-needed-for-community-will-end-up-in-developers-hand/story-fngr8h22-1227207855672
