The meeting was chaired by well known and highly respected lawyer Kevin Gibbons and we had  presentations by:

John Mant Lawyer and Urban Planner. One of Australia’s leading urban policy consultants, who ran a planning law practice, advising governments in Australia and Asia on organisation and legislative reforms in urban management, planning systems and controls and strategic planning facilitation.

Peter Robinson Urban planner and Director of ‘Sustainable Urbanism’ in Surry Hills

David Melocco, Architect  local resident and principal of ‘Melocco and Moore’ Architects in Surry Hills

Greg Frith local resident and member of the No Lewisham Towers Residents Action Committee.

After speaking with attendees afterwards many were indeed surprised about the plans and keen to know more.  Also notable were some Summer Hill residents who made the point it clearly impacts just as much if not more on them as Lewisham residents.

The Committee is indeed ramping up and we will be getting particularly active in the next few days and weeks so please stay tuned…

Time is ticking away! – Want to take action?

Here are some things you can do:

1. Attend the upcoming community meeting

2. Sign the petition

3. View Demian’s new proposal  it can be accessed at www.lewishamestate.com.au.

Friday, 16th July 2010 from 6pm to 8pm
St Andrews Church Hall2 Henson St, Summer Hill (cnr Smith Street)

The reason for the meeting is to update the community about recent news and revised plans for a major Part 3A development proposed for our neighbourhood – the industrial site on the corner of Old Canterbury Rd and Longport Sts, Lewisham.

The developer (Demian) who submitted the above 14/15 storey proposal to the State Government in February, 2009, is now active and has a revised plan to show the community.

You may have received a flyer from a group called Lewisham Estates Pty.Ltd. This is a rebranded proposal from Demian.. Before the developer begins its full public consultation process in earnest, it’s a must to attend this meeting if you want to know what is happening behind the scenes in your community.

If you can’t be there be sure to join our facebook page and stay updated via this website.

Residents Action Association Inc.

If you are a local resident and want to learn where the Lewisham Towers development is heading and what has gone on behind the scenes, you should attend the Public Meeting at 6.00pm on Friday, July 16th at the St Andrews Church Hall, 2 Henson St, Summer Hill (cnr Smith St) to discuss the developer’s revised concept plan (see flyer). The Lewisham Towers industrial site is on the corner of Old Canterbury Rd & Longport St.

Either at the meeting or on-line at this website, you are encouraged to sign the petition responding to the latest proposal. The proposal can be accessed at www.lewishamestate.com.au.

As you will realise, things are starting to move so the No Lewisham Towers Residents Action Association Inc is updating and upgrading our website www.nolewishamtowers.org.

Meanwhile, we have met with the developer’s project architect and project manager and Urbis, the company commissioned by the developer to manage community liaison. We have been shown the proposed next version of the developer’s concept plan which will be put on public exhibition shortly. We remain concerned over several aspects of this revised proposal.

In the last few months while we were waiting for the developer to respond to the requirements of the Director General of Planning in relation to their first concept plan,
we have been active in meeting with various state and local government representatives and staff. We will report back on these discussions at the public meeting.

The No Lewisham Towers committee is gathering strength and expertise and has undergone some change with the inclusion of a number of new fellow residents. Due to his increased workload, Andrew Pfann has resigned as Chairperson though he continues as Company Secretary. Andrew has been replaced by a highly regraded and well connected cultural advocate and fellow Lewisham resident, Tamara Winikoff.

Another Lewisham resident David Melocco, an architect from Melocco Moore and Associates has also joined the committee offering his expertise in planning and design matters.

We also hope soon to have on board another resident – a litigation and mediation specialist with first hand knowledge of NSW planning law.

We are now seeking a fellow resident with a communications and/or marketing skill-set to offer some media support and guidance. If you are interested, can spare a few hours a week to contribute to the well-being of the community and can attend our monthly meetings, please contact us via our direct email: secretary@nolewishamtowers.org.

We look forward to meeting you on July 16th. It is in your interest to attend.

WHERE: Summer Hill Community Centre, 131 Smith St, Summer Hill

WHAT: See Marrickville Council’s draft master plan for the McGill Street Lewisham precinct (site of the proposed Lewisham Towers).

• Local resident, Greg Frith will take you through Council’s draft master plan. Time will then be available for the local community to express their opinions.
• Local Councillors from Marrickville and Ashfield Councils will be available to hear your points of view and answer your questions.
• The draft master plan forms an alternative vision to the Lewisham Towers proposal of a supermarket mall and 14 storey apartment towers. It is important for the local community to engage in the process and express their opinion.
• This is also your chance to support the NO LEWISHAM TOWERS residents action group by joining up and making a donation.

You can view a copy of the plans here.

Map to community meeting venue:

View Larger Map

If adopted by Marrickville Council, this plan will regulate building heights, densities, open space and other aspects of planning.

The Department of Planning has instructed the developer proposing the Lewisham Towers, Demian Developments, to take into account Council’s planning documents for the precinct.  So this master plan will provide an alternative vision to the plans for the Lewisham Towers.

Marrickville Council is inviting the public to view the draft Master Plan on Sunday 27 September 2009 from 10.00am – 1.00pm on Level 3 of the Council’s Administration Building in Fisher Street, Petersham.

No Lewisham Towers encourages residents to view the plans and provide feedback to Council staff.

Marrickville Council has a webpage on the master plan.  The draft master plan document is online as a PDF.

Map to Marrickville Council chambers:

View Larger Map

As part of our efforts to garner greater awareness within the community, No Lewisham Towers has secured a stall at the Marrickville Festival on Sunday 27th September. Consequently, we are calling for volunteers to assist with manning of the stall.

The fair operates from 11am to 5pm, so we would need people to assist from 10:30am through to approx 5:30pm (to assist with set-up & pull-down). We intend to put people on a roster basis, so we endeavour that with enough volunteers, you should only be on the stall for a couple of hours.

Staffing the stall will involve handing out pamphlets, speaking to people about the development and, most importantly, getting people to sign pre-prepared letters to our local member, Carmel Tebbutt. Our aim for the day is 1000 letters, so we need all the help we can get.

If you can help, please email secretary@nolewishamtowers.org with details of your availability.

Thanks,

Andrew Pfann
Secretary
No Lewisham Towers

Marrickville Council’s master plan process has begun and community consultation for the McGill Street Precinct has opened.

The precinct is located in Lewisham and is bounded by Old Canterbury Road to the east and south, Hawthorne Canal and the Rozelle Goods Line to the west and Longport Street to the north.

The aim of the master plan is to advance the directions of the Marrickville Urban Strategy 2007 through the preparation of a plan which ensures that future development in the precinct is planned cohesively. The master plan will provide urban design and planning controls for the precinct that address the scale and density of development, local area traffic management, landscaping and public domain improvements and the mix of land uses.

The urban design firm Hassell Limited have been engaged to undertake the master plan which is anticipated to take four months to complete.

To inform the work of the consultants Council is seeking submissions from the community on what they see as the key issues regarding future redevelopment within the precinct. Comments received will be used in the development of a draft master plan which will be subject to further community review.

A copy of the project brief and supporting documentation including the Marrickville Urban Strategy 2007 and Marrickville Employment Land Study 2008 can be viewed on Council’s website at www.marrickville.nsw.com.au. Submissions marked ‘McGill Street Precinct Master Plan’ are invited and can be mailed to the General Manager, Marrickville Council, PO Box 14, Petersham NSW 2049; faxed to 9335 2029; or emailed tocouncil@marrickville.nsw.gov.au.

Submissions will be received until 5pm on 18 August 2009.

For enquiries phone Colette Goodwin, Executive Planner, Planning Projects on 9335 2188.