No Lewisham Towers

WHEN: 8pm Thursday 19 November 2009

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

At 7.40 tonight Ashfield Council unanimously passed the following motion put by Councillors Lofts and Kelso

1. That the Director of Planning and Environment, of Ashfield Council, Mr Phil Sarin be authorised to technically assess the compliance, non-compliance or inadequacy of Development Proposal MP O8_0195 in addressing the Director General of Planning’s Requirements, should this proposal reach the Environmental Assessment Stage.
2. That should independent assessments be required for the impact of
   the traffic or the retail components of the proposal, Mr Sarin report
   to Council regarding the commissioning of such assessments
3. That included in these assessments, the impact on Summer Hill,
   Ashfield and other relevant centres be included.
4. That Council identify the legal status of protection for the endangered bandicoot native to the site.

A second motion was unanimously passed minutes later from Cr Stott:

1. That, on behalf of the residents of this municipality, Ashfield Council reaffirms its opposition to this gross overdevelopment, and communicates this message to the Minister for Planning, The Hon Kristina Keneally, The Hon Carmel Tebbutt, The Hon Lynda Burney, The Hon Virginia Judge and the Hon Anthony Albanese.
2. That Ashfield Council’s Director of Planning and Environment, as soon as possible, prepare a report outlining the broad social, commercial and environmental impacts of this proposal on the communities (both residential and commercial) of Summer Hill and Ashfield, prior to the proposal reaching the Environmental Assessment stage. This report, after adoption by Council, be transmitted to the Minister for Planning, Ms K Keneally and the Director General of the Department of Planning.
3. That a clear outline of the proposal be the subject of the next Mayoral column, with a link to www.nolewishamtowers.org to provide access to updates and register submissions.
4. That details of the Lewisham Towers proposal be the prominent feature of the next Council Newletter.
5. That Ashfield Council provide a link to www.nolewishamtowers.org on the front page of our website.
6. That Ashfield Council allocate $12,000 to fund the assessments.