,nii1R1lilir L343510 in this issue: Let's talk about ·tt • c · e reirnce comments sought on Masterplan for Fl etchers' site SHOULD GLEBE REMAIN WITH LEICHHARDT COUNCIL - • OR MOVE TO THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ? in Forsyth St, p2 , e taken • when Council should say 'No', p3 In Butktin I/2000 [pl] I invited by joining with other councils to create +- members to comment on the proposal by economics in the deliverye ,f services. • parking options in Glebe, p4 1) the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Councillor She predicted that the ma~ r would go Frank Sartor, to expand the City to the Boundaries Commission and • light rail complete mid-July, p5 Council's boundaries, resulting in Glcbe said that, in her opinion, Lcichhardt being transferred back to the Council as presently constituted is an • the news from Broadway, p6 administration of the City Council, along appropriate size to enable proper with other areas bordering the City of interaction with constituents. • the 'Three Bridges' Walk, p7 Sydney. Only a few comments were The Society considers that the local received from members, and they were communiry should have every fairly evenly split between opposition and opportunity to consider the support for the proposal. proposition and is writing to both - After the initial bout of publicity in mid­ Cowicils detailing members concerns, ·-L February, the issue seems to have died. stating that at this stage we have an This may be in part due to the statement open mind, and that we would require by the Minister for Local Government fu more information before we could >-< that such a proposition would not be take a position. examined until after the current round of In association with the Glcbe Chamber The GLEBE ~ voluntary council amalgamations is of Commerce, the Society is offering t~ POSTAGE +- § completed later this year. We cannot Box 100 PO ::i: PAID host a community forum at which all E-c I) ~ assume the proposal is dead. details of the proposal arc laid on the We invited the Glcbc Ward C<;>uncillors table and debated. The forum would to attend the April meeting of the also give proponents and opponents of The Librarian - Ms Margaret Whittaker • Management Committee, and the amalgamation the opportunity to Glebe Library Mayor, Councillor Maire Sheehan, explain how they would deal with the u accepted our invitation. In relation to many pressing issues confronting Road this issue she stressed the Council's Glebe. ~ Glebe NSW 2037 0 efforts to be more efficient, particularly Bruce Davis V) NOTICE TO All MEMBERS The cost of ordinary membership of the the Historic Glebe walking guide and Glebe Society will rise to $40 next occasional activities, such as, the c=-, • --··_ __ j 1 financial year; pensioner/student Progressive Dinner and Christmas .. c==J.·:: membership will rise to $20, and function at Lyndhurst, which make a institutional membership will now be small profit. ... as from l Jul 2000 CAREFORTHECOMMUNITY ~ $100. This is not a decision that the We arc investigating ways of making Management Committee wanted to membership relevant to a wider REPORT: -~~ make, but given that expenditure MEMBERSHIP OF THE GLEBE SOCIETY INC. number of Glebc residents, and new exceeds revenue under the present fee initiatives which would boost our Ordinary $40 • dumped trolleys 1800 641. 497 structure, we decided that we could no revenue [sec Bulletin 1/2000 p5]. The • dumped liner 9560. 6169 longer put off the evil day. best way to make ends meet is to Concession: • dumped cars 9367. 9222 The only area where we can make attract new members, and to ensure Student/Pensioner $20 • aircraft noise 9582. 1850 significant savings is the Bulletin. The that existing members renew. If you Institution $100 editor has frequently volunteered to know anyone in Glebe who is reduce the number of pages in order to interested in the heritage and quality Write to Box 100 PO Glebe 2037 COPY DEADLINE reduce costs, but the Management of life of their suburb, encourage them or phone the Secretary, Liz Simpson-Booker, on 9518.6186 for the next issue of the Bulletin is Committee has always taken the view to join The Glebc Society - and please Tuesday 16 May that this should be a last resort. Our renew your own membership If you have a matter that you would like to bring to discuss main source of revenue is membership promptly in July this year. Please send to: with the Management Committee, please ring the Secretary subscriptions, supplemented by sales of PO Box 100 Glcbe, 32 Lombard Street, or WE MUST REMAIN FINANCIAL! 9518. 6186, and arrange to come to a meeting. [email protected] A publication of THE GLEBE SOCIETY Inc Box 100 Post Office Glebe NSW 2037 Australia . When Council should say 'No' The changing face Unless and until the Land and Environment Court is reformed in a manner that is more favourable to residents and less so to developers, there will always be a risk in letting a development application proceed of Glebe to court. We should think carefully about what Council's options are, and for what we, as a residents' group, should press.

FLETCHERS' AND GENERAL Council cannot refuse to deal with an redesign the applicarion for the site to confuse residents. The councillor REDEVELOPMENT ISSUES application. This is a pity, because containing the beautiful Federation appears to be acting at their behest, house, 'Montana', on the corner of but is in fact acting on behalf of the Rapid development of various sites in the Glebe area has applications are sometimes made Boyce and Bell Streets. The proposal developer. Ir is easy to pick these FLETCHERS' CONTAINER TERMINAL SITE placed great strain on the already overloaded system of simply to increase the value of a FORSYTH STREET generally narrow streets. The redevelopment of the property a developer intends to sell. to convert the nurses' home at the refusals: the grounds for refusal are Fletchers' site cannor be viewed in isolation. This site, the The Hardy's Timber Yard site at rear to three dwellings currently always weak and poorly argued. It is On Saturday, 8 April, I attended an on-site public 431-5 Glebe Point Road, recently includes balconies and a roof terrace particularly damaging politics, meeting to discuss the Mastetplan for Fletchers, the last Blackwattle Studios site at the end of Glebe Point Road sold by Leon Fink's company for $18 that increase both the wall height and because Council is involved in a long major development site in Glebe [see Bulktin 9199 p3]. a~d the former_ Childrens' Hospital site in Forest Lodge will all greatly mcrease the volume of traffic travelling million, is a good illustration. the overlooking of the heavily used and_ costly court case it is bonnd to There were over fifty people, quite a good attendance, rear gardens ofWigram Road through our small pocket of Glebe, which amounts to just Despite the opposition of residents, lose. though not as many as at the first Fletchen' public terraces. four thoroughfares: Taylor Street, Forsyth Street, Avon jusr before Christmas Council meeting which I chaired in 1996. The points raised approved a proposal for forty-five I hope it has become clear that a were although on latest occasion the Street and Ferry Road - all of which (as is stated in the similar, this town houses on this site. Hopefully, the applicant will save decision to refuse needs to be strongly discussion was rather disorganised and lasted three and a traffic study) already carry heavier volumes of traffic than some money and avoid a costly court supported. Councillors need to is generally acceptable for surburban streets. halfhouni. As pointed out in the SMH (Domain case by modifying the plan. know what the best grounds for It is not swprising that there is a high level of concern We have recently seen the disastrous traffic impact from a p3, Thursday 23 March) this means However, if money is no object, the refusal would be. They must have about such a large waterfront site. Some progress has large development in this suburb - traffic flow at The the new owner/developer (Singapore­ applicant could lodge an appeal. read and understood Council's been made in limiting the height and density of the Broadway Shopping Centre (which was approved by all based Sranley Quek) is paying planning controls. They also need ro Refusal should never be for political proposal, and also in securing the maximum public rraffic studies against the advice of local residents) has $400,000 for the land for each unit. understand the context and the rules reasons. In the past applications have access to the waterfront, but clearly there is further to go. become increasingly unworkable, and is still being Ir is not difficult to imagine what the of the court. When you add ro this sometimes been refused because a I hope The Society continues to press for reduction in tinkered with, e.g. the proposal to reopen Francis Street. price tag will be on rhese dwellings the need for courage and the power large and vociferous group of traffic through Glebe; we would all benefit, but the once the cost of construction and a to persuade-colleagues, ir helps to SIZE AND DENSITY residents objected, rather than residents in Fon;yth Street and Fetty Road would benefit profit margin are added. explain why Council is not more because theic was any defensible most. The size/density of the Fletchers' site needs to be reduced successful, even in the present " Council can, however, require more reason for refusal. In other words, the for a number of reasons. In regards to traffic flow, a unfavourable circumstances. A member has suggested that the Society should press information, as is the case with the majority of councillors were too reduction in size will, of course, reduce the number of for a design competition to be run in conjunction with most recent Harold When an appeal is made residents and therefore vehicles. It appears that no proper the DA for this site. Such a competition would enable Park application; or it to the Court, the Court, urban design analysis has taken place with regards to rhe those interested to have an input and address at least can require a rezoning for all practical purposes, development of the this' site. As the area under review for "A sure sign councillors have courage and know some of their concerns; it would probably not add and, in a few instances, becomes the Council. It is development is large, ways to sensitively subdivide the area substantially to costs, and the site owners may react a management plan, if what they are doing is when they are prepared supposed to apply-the with a sysrem of streets and lanes which will replicate the favourably to the idea. appropriate, as is the to refuse a poor development even when there same rules and standards. form and character of the rest of the suburb (as is being I will be writing to Council again about the assessment case with the Fletchers' The fact that so many done on the defence land site in Randwick) should be are no objectors, and when there is no political of the Masterplan and am eager to hear (ph 9660. 0208 site (see this Bulletin, Council decisions are undertaken. Residents do not want to see any enclave­ advantage to be gained." ) further comments from p2). overturned shows the type of developments, complete with locked gates, created membeni so that these can be incorporated; I will degree oflatitude that in this suburb. certainly include the proposal for a design competition. In most cases, however, Council is cowardly to incur the opprobrium of Councils actually enjoy. This is why faced with four options: [We understand the Masterplan is to be discussed at PARKING an unpopular decision. A councillor it is tempting to introduce stricter, should have a high enough reputation less flexible controls into a town plan: Council's May meeting. Ed.] • outright approval ~here arc nowhere near enough car spaces proposed on in the community to make some it makes ir more difficult for the • approval, but with changes OTHER MATTERS stte for residents and only ten visitors' spots are proposed. unpopular decisions. If a councillor Court to overturn a Council decision. • deferral, usually for further The developers are having pipe dreams if they think does not, he or she is at the mercy of Unfottunately, while the Court is The Society has written to Dr Stanley Quek, new owner information or redesign residents of studio and bed-sit apartments won't own cars. any demagogue, and democracy is more restricted. so is the originating of 461-5 Glebe Point Road, expressing concern about • refusal Council should be aware that most existing houses in this threatened. Council - the powers are the same. the approval given by Council to the DA for this site, area do not have off-street parking and residents have no Modified approval, deferral and and seeking a meeting to discuss changes. It is also not unknown for a In one important respect; the Court's choice but to park their vehicles on the street. This refusal are all subject to appeal. In councillor who privately approves of powers exceed those of Council. If It has also written to the Independent Commission development, as well as the move to install parking meters addition, if an application is not an application to move its refusal, an applicant substantially modifies a against Corruption concerning the misuse of Wentworth on Glebe Point Road, will mean that residents will have to determined within forty days, the because they know the developer will proposal made to Council, it has co Park by the greyhound racers. fight even more desperately for on-street parking spaces. applicanr may appeal on the grounds win an appeal. This political trick is be readvercised. However, this does Neil Macindoe of deemed refusal. On Thursday, 23 Philip Reed used by pro~development councillors 2 March, Council voted to defer for ... continued p5 The Glebe Soclelv Bulletin April/May 2000 3 Traffic Matters Wben Council Should say 'No' ... continued ftom p3

not apply to an appeal. An ~ttw~~~ unscrupulous applicant can present a The Society has written to the Deparrment of'l)ansport asking different set of plans to the Court and for the opportunity to mark the historical opening of the Light have them approved as though they MANAGEMENT Rail extension to Leichhardt with some form of celebration before The basic thrust of the THE SOCIETY HAS were the original application. Hence OF CAR PARl