CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION

In 1857 government proclamation was made by the first NSW Parliament to set aside at least 200 acres “for the health and well being for the people of Parramatta “The land is now largely operating as Cumberland Mental Health Hospital  adjoining World Heritage Listed  Parramatta Park and contains many of Australia’s most wonderful buildings designed by government architect Francis Greenway and Walter Liberty Vernon. This 30 hectare oasis cradles the largest and most intact Female Factory, the first Roman Catholic Orphanage and infamous Parra Girls home. In total around 40,000 women and children were institutionalized through these walls.

We call this precious precinct the Fleet Street Heritage Precinct.

The State Government is now proposing to parcel up and sell  20 hectares of  public land to developers.

While the government says it will retain some of the heritage buildings, it is getting rid of more than 50% of the buildings arguing they do not have sufficient merit and instead proposing to introduce a high-rise urban precinct.  This includes 3,000 + high density residential units. And commercial facilities.

These plans would spoil this wonderful heritage estate, that is currently being considered for national heritage listing with also the potential for a world heritage listing. In response, community, academics, experts and organizations alike including the National Trust, ICOMOS, Royal Australian Historical Society, Parramatta Female Factory Friends are fighting to protect the Heritage Precinct from being sold off.

With Parramatta City Council currently under administration, the community has been left without democratically elected Councilors to defend the voice of the public interest, while the Berijiklian Government attempts to bulldoze its plans through.

The Fleet Street Heritage precinct contains Australia’s oldest and most intact Female Factory where 5,000 convict women were sent from the British Isles.  These women were the mothers of our colonial colony.  If the government’s plans go ahead this will destroy the chance of having this important site listed as World Heritage site and spoil plans which would see this cultural legacy become an international tourist destination.

We need every in Parramatta and across Australia to make their voice heard.  You can do this by taking a few minutes to send off make a formal objection to the plans. Simply use the template on the right, which you can edit as you wish.

To view the government’s plans (this includes changes to the planning controls):

https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/sites/council/files/inline-files/Draft%20DCP%20Version%20for%20Website.pdf   

http://eplanning.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=404610  

To view the communities plans that would see the precinct become a cultural legacy:

http://nprag.org/alternative-vision-fshp/  

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION

Monday 13th March Parramatta City Council had included on the Business Paper the Draft DCP (Development Control Plan) for North Parramatta that will facilitate Urban Growth NSW first DA for the Heritage Precinct to sub divide the precinct into residential sale lots.

NPRAG and National Trust submitted to the public forum to deliver our objections.

We strongly believe that a State Government Appointed Administrator making decisions on a State Government Development is a huge conflict of interest.  You can read more here: Parramatta Sun

Sixty One Years to the day a public meeting was called for the desperate need for a pool, the community again have held a public meeting calling for the pressing need to SAVE Parramatta pool from a demolition that is not necessary.

Over 200 people filled the Burnside Primary School to question the local member Dr Geoff Lee, asking why he hasn’t fought harder and why is it up to the community to make sure the right thing is done for the people of Parramatta.

Read Article Here – http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/4496583/geoff-says-sorry/

On Saturday, Togs on the Fence saw protesting swimmers hang their old swimming trunks and bikinis on the fence around the pool in another display of unhappiness at the planned end-of-March pool closure to make way for a new and bigger sports stadium.

“Togs on the Fence campaign is a way for community to show the state government how important this pool to is to people of western Sydney,” North Parramatta Residents Action Group president Suzette Meade said.

More than 200 signatures were added to a petition organised by NPRAG on the weekend.

“While gathering more than 200 signatures in less than two hours, we heard from school age boys catching trains from Guildford to come here because it’s the best pool and grounds in the west,” Ms Meade said

Read Full Story Here

Sydney’s second CBD will be a pool free zone when Parramatta War Memorial Pool closes next month.

A Parramatta Council report has provided an update on a new aquatic centre.

Stage one of the Mays Hill precinct masterplan identified two potential sites.

The Sun can reveal they’re the corner of Park Parade and Pitt Street (north of the Jubilee Avenue walkway) and the school oval site adjacent to Pitt Street.

The community is urged to give their feedback during the stage two consultation.

The council is finalising its interim swimming management plan, which will be unveiled this month.

“While I share the community’s frustrations with the fact the pool is closing and there’ll be some time before a new pool is built, it’s important the council approves the new design with the full consultation of the community,” council administrator Amanda Chadwick said.

It remains unclear what the state government will contribute towards the pool.

“The NSW government has indicated that it will consider a financial contribution towards the capital costs of constructing a new aquatic leisure facility in Parramatta, however, no commitments have been made to a specific funding level at this time,” the council report states.

A spokeswoman for sports minister Stuart Ayres said the government has provided $400,000 towards planning the pool relocation.

North Parramatta Residents Action Group will host a public forum 7pm at Burnside Public School on February 27. It will mark 61 years after the first public meeting was held to discuss the need for a pool in Parramatta.

“We have a panel including school principals, architects, environmental and health experts,” president Suzette Meade said.

“Parramatta MP Geoff Lee has been invited to answer the questions from his constituents on why the state government is taking their pool without a replacement.”

Read Full Story Here

Mr Ayres believed the council was getting a good result out of his government.

“It is getting a new Western Sydney Stadium, a new Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, and it has had significant investment in roads to make the city more accessible,” he told parliament.

“It is only fair NSW taxpayers have an appropriate conversation with the council about the facilities we invest in. I do not think that creates an obligation on the NSW government to fund the complete relocation of the pool, particularly when ongoing maintenance and running of the pool will be a council responsibility.”

Most of the Sun’s questions regarding costs and why the pool relocation wasn’t included in the 2016 – 2017 budget were ignored by the minister’s office.

Read full story here

Similarly the North Parramatta Residents Action Group said no thought had been given to facilities that were appropriate for Parramatta, such as a local history museum.

‘In Parramatta we believe the state government is over investing in a ‘super-stadium’ over a significant strategic vision to expand the cultural and creative framework of the city … a considered approach to a holistic masterplan for the city to reach its full potential is being overlooked. This region has more heritage narratives from Indigenous and colonial history than anywhere else in NSW. Stories and themes that don’t need to be invented or transplanted from another community. There is existing potential waiting to be tapped into to create a sustainable cultural and tourist industry.‘ ”

Read full story here

Last Monday Brad Hazzard announced that the site on Albert & O’Connell Street will become affordable housing…….. Hmmmmm wasn’t this site part of UGNSW development?

Some of you may recall that this was a battle with residents in 2009 to stop this block proposal to become 195 one bedroom affordable housing units. In fact Dr Geoff Lee helped the community stop the development.