Decision details

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council approve a $1,000,000 (excluding GST) cash grant to the University of Technology Sydney to support the creation of Australia's first Indigenous Residential College, subject to the following conditions:

(i)          if all necessary funding has not been secured by University of Technology Sydney for the agreed value of the project within 18 months of Council approval of the grant, Council reserves the right to withdraw the grant offer;

(ii)         the grant funds are to be paid when a Construction Certificate has been awarded;

(iii)        if University of Technology Sydney does not complete the redevelopment referred to in Attachment A to the subject report by 30 June 2025, the City reserves the right to require the $1,000,000 grant to be repaid;

(iv)       the property supported though this grant will remain as subsidised accommodation and supporting facilities to fulfil the aims of the Indigenous Residential College outlined in Attachment A to the subject report in perpetuity,  unless Council exercises a right under paragraph (iii) above, or paragraph (vi);

(v)         the City will require a caveat or similar instrument over the land title to protect the land use referred to in paragraph (iv) unless the grant funds are repaid in accordance with paragraphs (iii) or (vi);

(vi)       if the use of land referred to in paragraph (iv) above changes from the Indigenous Residential College outlined in Attachment A, the grant will be repaid by University of Technology Sydney, less building depreciation;

(vii)      the University of Technology Sydney must work with the City to:

(a)        identify ways for the City to be involved in programming the space;

(b)        provide further information on the role of First Nations people in leading and co-creating the project;

(c)         provide further information on the entry pathways available for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents including scholarships and what measures are in place to ensure student numbers for Indigenous student do not fall below 50 per cent;

(d)        provide further information on the selection criteria to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students represent at least 50 per cent of the student population and the organisation's proposed response should student numbers fall below this level; and

(e)        ensure the building is designed with best practice environmental standards including a pathway towards net zero emissions;

(B)        Council note plans for University of Technology Sydney's Indigenous Residential College are yet to be finalised and development consent has not been applied for;

(C)       Council note that this grant does not meet the criteria of the Affordable and Diverse Housing Fund;

(D)       the cash grant to support the creation of Australia’s first Indigenous Residential College be funded from the 2019/2020 General Contingency; and

(E)        authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate, execute and administer a grant agreement with University of Technology Sydney related to the project described in clause (A).

Carried unanimously.

S117676