Protecting ATP

After it was announced that the Australian Technology Park sold off to Mirvac, our office worked hard together with the community to preserve the heritage, living history, innovation and inner-city green space at the ATP and Eveleigh Tram Sheds precinct.

We joined with community groups including REDWatch, the Alexandria Residents Action Group, and the Friends of Erskineville to ensure that these valuable inner city spaces were properly protected.

To help raise awareness of the issue, Jenny made a speech in Parliament about the history and significance of the Australian Technology Park site. She said:

“The Australian Technology Park was once the site of Australia's largest industrial complex, the Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The site has been recognised both nationally and internationally for its heritage significance. The site is equally important for its social and industrial history, being the site of important struggles for historic working conditions including work-free weekends, amenities and fair pay. The Greens have strongly objected to the idea of privatising this site since it was first announced and we will continue to do whatever is possible to ensure that this important heritage site is preserved and remains accessible to the local community.”

Watch Jenny’s speech below or read the full transcript in Hansard here.

In January 2016, our office hosted then Minister for Heritage, Mark Speakman for a tour of the ATP to explore the site and here from local heritage experts about its significance. Following the tour, our office wrote to the Minister to reiterate the calls of the local experts to protect and preserve key elements of the site.

Our office also made a formal submission to Mirvac's development application and lead a campaign encouraging local residents to do the same. 

As a result of a fantastic community campaign, the Government worked with Mirvac to ensure that the heritage, living history, innovation and inner-city green space at ATP and Eveleigh Tram Sheds precinct was preserved.