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.