Decision details

Moved by Councillor Weldon, seconded by Councillor Ellsmore –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

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

(ii)         until recently, the social enterprise 107 Projects managed 107 Redfern Street, with long-term discounted leases through our accommodation grants program, and other forms of support;

(iii)        107 Projects provided artist workspace, rehearsal space, exhibition space and performance space, and hosted a diversity of community programs, courses and workshops;

(iv)        on 30 September 2024, 107 Projects handed 107 Redfern Street back to the City of Sydney. The loss of 107 Projects and the range of creative and cultural uses it supported is a major loss for the community;

(v)         the City is continuing to support existing tenants at 107 Redfern Street, and has advised the community that “we will review and determine new operational models”;

(vi)        the local community is very interested in how the City intends to reactivate 107 Redfern Street;

(vii)      in particular, there has been longstanding interest in the space at 107 Redfern Street from local Aboriginal community and Aboriginal organisations. Located in the heart of Redfern, 107 Redfern Street is surrounded by a number of prominent Aboriginal community-controlled organisations with historical significance to Redfern;

(viii)     the City’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel has consistently called for 107 Redfern Street to be made available to the Aboriginal community;

(ix)        the City needs to take great care in planning the next phase in the life of this prominent venue, given:

(a)         the critical shortage of affordable and accessible creative and cultural space, including workspace, rehearsal space, exhibition space and performance space;

(b)         how precious community spaces have become in recent years as not-for-profit organisations, including Aboriginal organisations, are increasingly unable to afford spaces due to high rents; and

(c)         the opportunity to support Aboriginal creative and cultural practice and demonstrate our commitment to supporting Aboriginal self-determination;

(x)         it is the City’s intention to retain 107 Redfern Street for cultural and creative use; and

(xi)        the City’s Cultural Strategy 2025-2035 defines culture as the “the heritage, knowledge and cultural practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the expressions of identity of our diverse multicultural communities as well as the arts and creative industries”;

(B)        Council commits to:

(i)           prioritise local Aboriginal creative and cultural use of 107 Redfern Street, while retaining broader community use;

(ii)         undertake an open process for Aboriginal organisations and groups to express interest in either managing or utilising space at 107 Redfern Street;

(iii)        ensure targeted engagement with local Aboriginal community, organisations and groups in relation to this opportunity;

(iv)        in the absence of Aboriginal management, establish a panel that advises on the programming and usage to ensure local Aboriginal community input and oversight of the ongoing management of the space;

(v)         undertake necessary maintenance and upgrades to 107 Redfern Street and provide ongoing asset management support, as required;

(vi)        maintain short-term and temporary uses of 107 Redfern Street, and ensure that necessary maintenance and upgrades are conducted in a manner that maximises the space's availability and minimises interruptions;

(vii)      ensure long term tenancies are not advertised, and new tenants are not moved in, prior to the process outlined above; and

(viii)     review this arrangement in 3 years, prior to the end of the current Council term;

(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 prior to the April 2025 Council meeting about:

(i)           the status of the 107 Redfern Street property;

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

(iii)        any recommended or proposed temporary activation which could be implemented in the short term to ensure the space remains activated.

Carried unanimously.

X113759