Archbishop moves to Glebe, 22 Catharine and 37a Arundel Streets
As members are probably aware, the name Glebe indicates that our suburb was a grant of land by Governor Phillip to what was then the Established Church to maintain a church and school. What is now the Glebe Estate is what remained in church hands until it was sold to the Commonwealth in 1973. A few other sites were retained.

Some of these are in Arundel and Catherine Streets. In December DAs were exhibited for a new residence for the Anglican Archbishop on two of these sites, a former garage and workshop. This decision follows the sale of the Victorian Gothic, 15-bedroom palace known as Bishopscourt in Darling Point. The new residence will accommodate not only the Archbishop’s family, but also visitors, plus spaces for meetings. The total cost of the modern buildings is estimated to be $7.3 million.

22 Catharine St, as it stands today (image: V. Simpson-Young)

Bellevue, 55a Leichhardt St (Blackwattle Bay Park)
The new lessee has requested an amendment to the existing DA, increasing the amount of seating from 60 to 120 places, spread over the upper and lower levels, with a different configuration for day and evening, and extending hours of operation until 10 pm. This is only half the increase in seating proposed in the DA of 7 December, 2017, which was refused.

As previously stated, the Society is concerned the current restrictions are too severe to allow the business to continue trading, especially in the light of its isolation from other businesses. Closure would imperil this important and beautifully sited Heritage Item. The Committee has therefore decided to support the modest increase proposed, while retaining protection for nearby residents. Other businesses in Glebe have similar restrictions.

As previously stated, the Society is concerned the current restrictions are too severe to allow the business to continue trading, especially in the light of its isolation from other businesses. Closure would imperil this important and beautifully sited Heritage Item. The Committee has therefore decided to support the modest increase proposed, while retaining protection for nearby residents. Other businesses in Glebe have similar restrictions.

Opal Tower, Olympic Park
The evacuation of this high-rise residential building over Christmas highlighted the problem of private certification, whereby development companies can hire their own certifier to say the building was constructed according to the plans and building code. The NSW Government report has already concluded the construction was faulty and did not meet the code.

The Society, through the Better Planning Network, has been protesting against this system for some time. It was a major feature of changes to the Planning Act, and was part of a general move to remove regulation, especially from Local Government. It will be interesting to see if this latest scandal causes a loss of confidence in deregulation, just as the Banking Royal Commission is causing a rethinking of financial regulation, and the Aged Care Commission is already showing concerns about deregulation in that area.

Local Government regulation tends to be slower, and this is part of the reason it is so hated by developers. However, in the current climate safety of residents may be a higher priority than developer profits.

Grenfell Tower, Kensington, London
The incineration of 72 residents and more recent, but less serious fires in Spencer St, Melbourne and in Sydney are also a consequence of the deregulation of development. Sheets of foam derived from petroleum and covered in thin aluminium seemed like suitable lightweight insulation to some developers of high-rise. Unfortunately, these cladding sheets are also highly flammable. There are none in Glebe, but throughout NSW about 400 buildings will need to have cladding replaced, although who will bear the cost is not immediately clear. Apparently there is now an agreement to ban the cladding throughout Australia.

Late-Night Trading
The Society has asked the City to tighten the criteria for approval of late-night trading and to make the welfare and amenity of residents the top priority in all cases.