www.artarmonprogress.org.au Edition 48 November 2009 Newsletter of the Artarmon Progress Association Artarmon’s Industrial Revolution By the APA Committee A number of significant projects currently strong links to the history of broadcasting complex of approximately 22,200m², and in the pipeline will transform the Artarmon in Australia, are also planned. LBD’s website over 500 car spaces. This building is also Industrial Area. In this story we bring you reports that it has commissioned “a combi- proposed to have strong ‘green’ credentials, up to date on these major developments. nation of sculptural artworks and interpretive targeting a 4 star Green Star rating from the signage, reflecting the site’s rich history of Green Building Council of Australia. Gore Hill Business Park production and broadcasting. A major art- IMAGE IMAGE © LINDSAY BENNELONG DEVELOPMENTS Construction would appear to be proceeding work showcasing the ABC test pattern and well, and CHC’s 2009 Annual Report (October news desk installations will be a feature of 2009) reports that tenants will include The the site, along with streets named after ABC Good Guys, JB Hi Fi, Barbeques Galore, personalities. The ABC’s iconic, colourful test Freedom, Bay Leather Republic and Snooze. pattern is synonymous with the early history CHC advises the Centre has over 75% terms of television. Artist Wendy Mills is collaborat- agreed, and is likely to open after Christmas. ing with the project architects to integrate this image into an artwork as a feature wall in Building D adjacent to the open Boral Cement Plant plaza.” (On The Air – Gore Hill Community Boral is rebuilding its concrete batching plant Newsletter, July 2009) on Reserve Road for approximately $12 mil- lion. The plant supplies the Sydney, North Construction was originally planned to Gore Hill Business Park, on the former site Sydney and Chatswood business districts commence in the last quarter of this year, of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and is expected to be completed around but there would appear to be little build- (ABC), is the largest of the projects on June 2010. Boral’s 2009 Annual Report ing activity on the site at present. We can the drawing board. The 4.5 hectare site, states that the company is “benefiting speculate that the market conditions over being developed by Lindsay Bennelong from the Federal Government’s Investment the past year or so may have resulted in a Developments (LBD), is being marketed as Allowance” in reconstruction of the plant. slow take-up of leases on the site, and if so the first five star, mixed use, high technol- the current proposed opening date of 2013 WCC has approved the roadworks associated ogy business park in Australia. could well be pushed out further. with the development. All traffic movements Certainly, the proposed ‘green credentials’ of with be on Reserve Road on a left in / left out LBD predicts that once it is up and running, the development are strong – including co- basis, with a median strip to stop trucks turn- the development will create more than generation, and a number of green travel initi- ing across Reserve Road. 4000 jobs. Almost a quarter of the site will atives such as a car pooling scheme, additional be landscaped with publicly accessible parks bike racks and showers and a free shuttle bus and a large roof garden. Retail facilities will Lane Cove Tunnel between the site & St Leonards train station. include cafes and restaurants, newsagent, The Lane Cove Tunnel development caused The development will also contain dedicated dry cleaner, mini market, doctor, post office much angst in the local community during its community facilities, originally proposed in and banking facilities. The current zoning design and construction period, and subsequent two buildings - a Community Centre and does not allow for a supermarket on site. opening in 2007. Now, we have recent reports a Sporting and Recreation Centre. Current that the Tunnel has been put up for sale by available information from LBD indicates that Home HQ North Shore its owners, Connector Motorways. The ABC the sports facility will contain three basket- HALL © CHARTER IMAGE reported on September 29 that “A spokesman ball courts, an indoor soccer field and a table for Connector Motorways says all the equity tennis room, along with change rooms and holders, including Leighton Holdings have writ- amenities. The proposed community centre ten off their stakes.” Whereas the project cost is a facility with air conditioning, carpeted significantly over $1bn to build, some media floors and a kitchenette. It will have 27 car reports suggest the asking price is $600 million. parking spaces and its use will be decided by Traffic volumes have been well below estimates, Willoughby Council. The Developer proposes postponing some of the APA’s concerns to give these facilities to Willoughby City about traffic impacts on local streets. However, Council (WCC) as part of the project’s con- The former Council works depot on the cor- parking on Artarmon residential streets clearly tribution to the community. ner of Reserve Road and Frederick Street is increased after the tunnel opening – anecdo- Responding to Council DA conditions for one development that certainly is progressing. tally, it seems some people are choosing to heritage installation and heritage interpretive The Charter Hall (CHC) development involves pay the LCT toll and train fare to the city, markers, public artwork which celebrates the adaptive reuse of the heritage warehouse rather than the Harbour Bridge toll and city the historical importance of the site, and its building into an integrated bulky goods retail parking fees. Christmas Celebration & Annual General Meeting - Artarmon Bowling Club, 8pm, Thursday 26 November. More on page 3. Artarmon Progress Association ABN 77 319 108 019 Established 1914 Editorial The APA Committee usually meets Michelle Sloane, APA President, refers in her column on p 3 to a SMH article of 22 October 2009 on the 4th Tuesday of the month, which raised the potential of the sale of airspace above railway stations in Sydney. excluding December. While I’m not against the development of infrastructure, it’s appropriate development that is so PO Box 540 Artarmon NSW 1570 important to keeping our community a desirable place to live. It was the spectre of redevelopment [email protected] over Artarmon train station, mooted by State Rail in late1998, that made me get more involved in Phone 0412 267 828 / Fax 9415 4498 local issues, so it’s somewhat ironic that as I write my last editorial, it again raises its head. www.artarmonprogress.org.au The Gazette of April/May 1999 reported that “highrise development … would seriously under- COMMITTEE 2008-2009 mine the established character and style of both the business and residential area”. Not to men- President Michelle Sloane tion impacting on property values, as any development over the station would have to be many Vice President Glenda Hewitt storeys high to be commercially viable, and would cast shadows over the surrounding area, as Treasurer Michael Dawes well as generate large amounts of additional traffic. Secretary Glenda Hewitt Maintaining the character of our suburb is imperative to its liveability and the strong sense of Federation Reps Peter Egan community that we have in Artarmon. We came to Artarmon because of the rail line, but it’s Tony Kemm Glenda Hewitt the community that has kept us here. Where else can you find the public transport access, so Traffic & Parking Rob Magner close to the city, coupled with green open spaces, local shops and facilities, and such direct, easy Membership Mel Travis access to a hospital, a University, a major shopping hub etc. Community & Heritage Marianne Nestor The ‘Gazette’ is also its own community - a group of volunteer, like-minded people who enjoy Arty Rep Ross Dickson bringing you stories and information about ‘Artarmon 2064’. I’ve been involved with the Gazette Public Information Meetings Rob Magner for 10 years now, and Editor for seven of those. There have been three people who I have worked Eva Wiland artarmonWebsite Manager Robert Newman with during that time who I particularly want to thank for their incredible (and ongoing) contribu- Committee Members Carol Elliott tions – Tony Kemm, who has organised the delivery to our volunteer deliverers, and while handing GAZETTE Kerrieann Harper this on next year, will still ‘walk’ the industrial area; Mollie Shelley, who continues to find relevant PO Box 540 Artarmon Sonia Powell1570 and entertaining gardening issues and stories for us; and Wendy Bishop, a ‘surrogate Artarmonite’ The Artarmon Gazette is published quarterly by the who, through her involvement with Permaculture North, is well known to many of you, and who Artarmon Progress Association. It is distributed by continues to create amazing cartoons for Mollie’s articles. volunteers, free of charge to Artarmon residents and businesses. Without the contributions of people like Tony, Mollie and Wendy, we wouldn’t be able to con- The Artarmon GazetteG seeksA Zto informET residentsT Eand tinue bringing you such an informative local publication – it’s been a pleasure to be able to con- business people about current local events and issues tribute to this great local community. andPO provide Box them 540 with Artarmona forum in which 1570 to discuss matters of interest and concern. Anne Weinert TheWritten Artarmon contributions Gazette is andpublished photograpadvertising quarterly by the [email protected] materialArtarmon to Progress the Editor. Association. Material It is can distributed be received by volunteers, on disk orfree via of email.charge Someto Artarmon minor residentsediting mayand businesses.be necessary for The Artarmon Gazette seeks to inform residents and businessconsiderations people of about space currentand layout. local events and issues Viewand provideand opinions them expressedwith a forum in the in Artarmonwhich to Gazettediscuss matters of interest and concern.