Another unanimous vote from Council!

At the City of Sydney Council meeting on 18 September Council unanimously passed the following resolution:

“Purchase of Crown Land in Forest Lodge

That Council:

(A) note that the owners of the adjacent apartment block have used and maintained this Crown land in Alfred Road under a “Permissive Occupancy” arrangement for over 20 years;

(B) note that the Director General of the Department of Lands has confirmed that the existing occupancy arrangements will continue while the Department of Lands considers its options;

(C) note that the upcoming State Election provides an ideal opportunity to lobby the State Government to continue to preserve this Crown land in public ownership;

(D) confirm its opposition to sale of public land until a comprehensive, transparent and open assessment process has explored all available options, with priority given to preserving Crown land in public ownership;

(E) Council seek an independent valuation of the land based on the potential outcomes of the use of the site."

Councillor Verity Firth had started the process by placing a Notice of Motion on the meeting agenda, following receipt of a letter from the Director General of the Department of Lands to the CEO of Council regarding options for the Crown land. At the meeting, Councillor Hoff proposed an amendment to the Motion, to which Councillor Kemmis and the Lord Mayor both spoke in support. Councillor Kemmis noted a statement in the Director General’s letter that the Department of Lands is still considering options for the site. With a further amendment proposed by Councillor Firth, all Councillors voted to pass the amended Motion.

AGM of the Owners Corporation at 77 Hereford Street confirms intention to pursue campaign for public open space

At their AGM on 16 September the Owners Corporation of the apartment block at 77 Hereford Street agreed that, together with the forestlodgetrees group, they would continue to vigorously pursue the campaign to have Council acquire the Crown land at 9 Alfred Road as soon as possible for public open space. They will continue to manage the land under the existing permissive occupancy on an interim basis only whilst negotiations between the Department of Lands and Council are resolved. A letter will be delivered to the Minister for Lands informing him of this.

Council keeps the land on the agenda

At the Council meeting on 28 August Deputy Lord Mayor Verity Firth put a question on notice regarding the land at 9 Alfred Road Forest Lodge. At the meeting Councillor Robyn Kemmis also asked a question without notice regarding the land. In her answer to Councillor Firth's question, the Chief Executive Office indicated she had made representations to the Department of Lands and that the City was waiting advice from the Department before negotiations could continue. In her response to Councillor Kemmis' question, the Lord Mayor stressed that 'it is absolutely vital that where open space is still available it is kept in the public domain for the benefit of the community that is living at high densities'. The full text of both questions and answers is printed below.

PURCHASE OF LAND AT 9 ALFRED ROAD, FOREST LODGE (REAR OF 77 HEREFORD ST) GLEBE

1. By Councillor Firth

Question

Could the CEO please provide Councillors with an update on negotiations with the Department of Lands on the purchase of the crown land at 9 Alfred Road, Forest Lodge.

Could the CEO please advise:

(i) How many times the CEO has met with the Department of Lands on this issue?

(ii) What is the current status of negotiations? Is Council close to coming to an agreement with the Department of Lands over the ownership and maintenance of this land?

(iii) What further action can the Council take to ensure that this valuable piece of open space comes under the ownership of Council?

Answer by the Chief Executive Officer

(i) I have met with the Director General of the Department of Lands once on 24 May 2006 to discuss the issue of land at 9 Alfred Road, Forest Lodge. I then spoke to the Director General twice to follow up on our discussions. I worte a letter on 5 July 2006 summarising our meeting and requesting a formal response so it could be reported to Council. The Properites Unit has also spokent to the Department seveal times to pursue this issue.

(ii) The Department of Lands undertook to speak to the owners of properties adjoining 9 Alfred Road regarding options for future ownershop of the land. The City is waiting on advice from the department before negotiations can continue.

(iii) Until we have received advice from the Department of Lands on the future of the site, the City is unable to determine the appropriate action to be taken.

CROWN LAND IN GLEBE

4. By Councillor Kemmis

Question

Lord Mayor, I note the Question on Notice about the land at the rear of 77 Hereford Street, Forest Lodge. I am also aware that the community is concerned about suggestions that the existing licence should continue. They fear this provides no certainty about this land because the State Goverment could still decide to sell it in the future. I would appreciate your comment.

Answer by the Lord Mayor

I appreciate their concern. I think communities around Sydney are concerned about various actions of the State Goverment. I know the community in Paddington is concerned about land in Trumper Park. I know people in Surry Hills are concerned about the Crown Street Reservoir, and people in Glebe are justifiably concerned.

I agree with the CEO that we can't make a final decision until the Department of Lands comes back to use, but the point I'd like to really stress here is that this is publicly ownned land and, given that we have had successive governments with policies of urban consolidation dramatically increasing population in the City without corresponding infrastructure and open space, it is absolutely vital that where open space is still available it is kept in the public domain for the benefit of the community that is living at high densities. I think this applies throughout the City as well as areas like Glebe and Forest Lodge.

I believe the City is certainly making its contribution with the Water Police site, Surry Hills Park, the purchase of the land on The Crescent and Orphan School Creek Gully and I believe that the State should also fulfil its duty in this area, and should certainly not allow that land to be sold but keep it in the public domain for the inner city community.