Decision details

The original Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor Scott and seconded by Councillor Miller.

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the communities of Darlington and Chippendale are separated from those in Erskineville, Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria by the railway line that runs between them;

(ii)        the privatisation of the Australian Technology Park (now known as South Eveleigh) has caused an influx of Commonwealth Bank workers to the area;

(iii)      the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Redfern has been growing since 2017 with growth of 5.36 per cent in 2017, 4.20 per cent in 2018, 3.01 per cent in 2019 and 1.95 per cent in 2020;

(iv)      the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Erskineville-Eveleigh has been growing since 2013 with growth of 4.41 per cent in 2013, 3.88 per cent in 2014, 3.65 per cent in 2015, 2.70 per cent in 2016, 2.84 per cent in 2017, 4.27 per cent in 2018, 2.30 per cent in 2019 and 1.85 per cent in 2020;

(v)       the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Darlington has been growing since 2013 with growth of 6.41 per cent in 2013, 5.62 per cent in 2014, 6.62 per cent in 2015, 7.81 per cent in 2016, 4.45 per cent in 2017, 1.95 per cent in 2018, 0.83 per cent in 2019;

(vi)      the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Chippendale has been growing since 2013 with growth of 17.00 per cent in 2013, 16.43 per cent in 2014, 14.73 per cent in 2015, 9.55 per cent in 2016, 7.37 per cent in 2017, 3.17 per cent in 2018, 2.38 per cent in 2019 and 1.31 per cent in 2020;

(vii)     the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Alexandria has been growing since 2013 with growth of 2.51 per cent in 2013, 3.75 per cent in 2014, 3.80 per cent in 2015, 2.07 per cent in 2016, 4.06 per cent in 2017, 3.52 per cent in 2018, 2.25 per cent in 2019 and 1.82 per cent in 2020;

(viii)    the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW (TfNSW), is undertaking a number of major developments in the immediate area that will impact the whole precinct including the Redfern-North Eveleigh renewal;

(ix)      in March 2021, Transport for NSW released its Draft Redfern-North Eveleigh Strategic Vision which included a commitment to investigate the feasibility of a second pedestrian rail crossing via a bridge or reuse of tunnels between North Eveleigh and South Eveleigh in order to maximise connections in the precinct;

(x)       the City’s submission on Transport for NSW’s Draft Redfern-North Eveleigh Strategic Vision recommended providing improved and unimpeded connections in the surrounding areas;

(xi)      Transport for NSW is currently preparing to release its Redfern-North Eveleigh State Significant Precinct Study for public consultation;

(xii)     the construction of the Waterloo Metro Station and upgrade to Redfern Station will see the use of this already busy transit hub increase;

(xiii)    residents of Redfern, Erskineville, Waterloo and Alexandria have been lobbying for a bridge that would connect North and South Eveleigh since at least 2008 when the Redfern Waterloo Authority prepared a proposal for a bridge across the railway line which they called the "Eveleigh Heritage Walk";

(xiv)    calls for a bridge across the railway line have recently been renewed by the local community; and

(xv)     community groups REDWatch, Friends of Erskineville and the Alexandria Resident Action Group launched a petition in September 2021, which has gained 480 signatures, calling on the NSW Minister for Transport to approve the construction of a bridge over the railway line as a matter of urgency;

(B)      upon release of Transport for NSW’s Redfern-North Eveleigh State Significant Precinct Study, the Chief Executive Officer be requested to closely examine its feasibility study for new connections across the railway line and provide feedback, with input from Councillors via the CEO Update; and

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Minister for Transport requesting that the NSW Government:

(i)         commit to providing a pedestrian and cycling connection as part of the Redfern-North Eveleigh renewal to connect communities in Darlington and Chippendale with those in Erskineville, Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria across the railway line; and

(ii)        collaborate with the City, other key stakeholders in the area and the community throughout that connectivity project.

Amended motion carried unanimously.

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