Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Weldon -

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         107 Redfern Street, Redfern, is a large community space owned by the City of Sydney Council;

(ii)        until recently, the social enterprise ‘107 Projects’ managed both 107 Redfern Street, and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland, with Council providing long-term discounted leases through its accommodation grants program, and other forms of support;

(iii)       ‘107 Projects’ supported a diversity of cultural and community programs and activities, including courses, art exhibitions and live music performances, to name a few;

(iv)       on 30 September 2024, 107 Projects handed both sites back to the City of Sydney. Loss of ‘107 Projects’ and the diversity of innovative artistic and cultural activities it supported is a major loss for the community;

(v)        the City of Sydney is continuing to support existing tenants at the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre and 107 Redfern Street, and has advised the community that “the City will review and determine new operational models for Joynton Avenue Creative Centre and 107 Redfern Street”;

(vi)       there is a high level of need for affordable community and cultural spaces in the City of Sydney Local Government Area. Not-for-profit organisations, including Aboriginal organisations, are increasingly unable to afford spaces in the City of Sydney, due to high rents. In terms of creative uses, along with a lack of affordable housing, a lack of access to affordable creative spaces has been identified as a key driver behind the reduction in the number and diversity of artists in the City of Sydney; 

(vii)      the local community is very interested in how the City intends to reactivate both 107 Redfern Street and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland;

(viii)    in particular, there has been long running community interest in the space at 107 Redfern Street from Aboriginal organisations. This space is located in the heart of Redfern, near a number of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations; and

(ix)       the City of Sydney needs to take great care in planning the next phase in the lives of these prominent venues, given how precious affordable community and creative spaces have become in recent years in the City of Sydney;

(B)       Council commit to:

(i)             undertaking an open community consultation to seek feedback from the community, to help determine the best plan for the future, long term uses of 107 Redfern Street and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland;

(ii)            ensuring targeted consultation is undertaken with Aboriginal community organisations, particularly in relation to the 107 Redfern Street property;

(iii)           ensuring short term and temporary uses of the spaces continue, including continuing to support any pre-existing tenancies, while also ensuring long term tenancies are not advertised, and new tenants are not moved in, before Council has had an opportunity to hear and consider options for the future of the sites; and

(iv)           prioritising Aboriginal community uses and control in relation to the development of future management options for both properties, but particularly of 107 Redfern Street;

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to write to 107 Projects to thank them for their work and support for the community; and

(D)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to provide advice to the March 2025 Council meeting about:

(i)         the status of the two properties;

(ii)        any current tenancies, bookings or committed uses for the properties;

(iii)       any recommended or proposed temporary or ‘pop-up’ uses, which could be implemented short term to ensure the spaces remain activated; 

(iv)       any discussions or requests to date, with or from organisations, businesses, individuals and advisory groups (including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel) about the properties; and

(v)        a proposed consultation and community engagement process to seek feedback from the community about the future of the properties.

Amendment. Moved by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Kok –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         107 Redfern Street, Redfern, is a large community space owned by the City of Sydney Council;

(ii)        until recently, the social enterprise ‘107 Projects’ managed both 107 Redfern Street, and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland, with Council providing long-term discounted leases through its accommodation grants program, and other forms of support;

(iii)       ‘107 Projects’ supported a diversity of cultural and community programs and activities, including courses, art exhibitions and live music performances, to name a few;

(iv)       on 30 September 2024, 107 Projects handed both sites back to the City of Sydney. Loss of ‘107 Projects’ and the diversity of innovative artistic and cultural activities it supported is a major loss for the community;

(v)        the City of Sydney is continuing to support existing tenants at the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre and 107 Redfern Street, and has advised the community that “the City will review and determine new operational models for Joynton Avenue Creative Centre and 107 Redfern Street”;

(vi)       there is a high level of need for affordable community and cultural spaces in the City of Sydney Local Government Area. Not-for-profit organisations, including Aboriginal organisations, are increasingly unable to afford spaces in the City of Sydney, due to high rents. In terms of creative uses, along with a lack of affordable housing, a lack of access to affordable creative spaces has been identified as a key driver behind the reduction in the number and diversity of artists in the City of Sydney; 

(vii)      the local community is very interested in how the City intends to reactivate both 107 Redfern Street and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland;

(viii)    in particular, there has been long running community interest in the space at 107 Redfern Street from Aboriginal organisations. This space is located in the heart of Redfern, near a number of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations; and

(ix)       the City of Sydney needs to take great care in planning the next phase in the lives of these prominent venues, given how precious affordable community and creative spaces have become in recent years in the City of Sydney;

(B)       it is the City’s intention to retain 107 Redfern Street and the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre as public assets for ongoing cultural and creative uses;

(C)       future long-term use of both premises will be guided by:

(i)         the City of Sydney Cultural Strategy 2025-2035 unanimously adopted by Council on 25 November 2024 following extensive public consultation;

(ii)        the ongoing need to address the critical shortage of affordable and accessible creative and cultural space, including workspace, rehearsal space, exhibition space and performance space; and

(iii)       retaining 107 Project’s vision and commitment to inclusivity and diversity; and

(D)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         write to 107 Projects to thank them for their work and support for the community; and

(ii)        keep Councillors informed about developments in the ongoing operations of 107 Redfern Street and Joynton Avenue Creative Centre via the CEO Update.

Procedural Motion

At this stage of the meeting, it was moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Gannon –

That Item 13.8 be deferred to a future meeting of Council.

Carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (9)           The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Ellsmore, Gannon, Kok, Maxwell, Miller, Thompson, Weldon, Wilson (Arkins) and Worling

Noes (1)          Councillor Weldon.

Carried.

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