It is resolved that:
(A)
Council note that Victoria Barracks:
(i)
is set on a portion of the original 1,000 acres
of land that Governor Macquarie bequeathed to the people of Sydney;
(ii)
is one of Sydney’s most significant heritage
sites, a symbol of 175 years of military service and an integral part of
Australia’s defence history;
(iii)
is on the Commonwealth Heritage List and is
locally heritage listed;
(iv)
contains the finest complex of colonial barracks
in Australia, with an important collection of late Georgian sandstone buildings
that served military purposes for almost 2 centuries; and
(v)
is still owned and operated by the Australian
Defence Force and remains an active military site today, with many of its
original buildings still in use and adapted for modern military administrative
uses;
(B)
Council note the findings of the Victoria
Barracks Engagement Outcomes Report as shown at Attachment B to the subject
report, subject to the following amendments:
(i)
update the guiding principle which reads
“Maximise public accessibility” to also include “and maintain public
ownership”; and
(ii)
update the detailed “Victoria Barracks Guiding
Principles” document dated November 2025 to clarify that the guiding principle
which reads “incorporate housing including diverse housing” includes public
housing;
(C)
Council endorse the Victoria Barracks Guiding
Principles as shown at Attachment A to the subject report, which prioritise the
conservation and enhancement of the heritage and military significance of the
site and note that they will be sent to the Department of Defence with an
invitation for City of Sydney staff to provide a briefing; and
(D)
the Lord Mayor be requested to send the Victoria
Barracks Guiding Principles as shown at Attachment A to the subject report to
the Minister for Defence Richard Marles with an invitation to further discuss
should divestment be contemplated.
The amended motion was carried unanimously.
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