AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2000
NSW: State Govt takes control of Luna Park impasse
SYDNEY, Dec 3 AAP - Luna Park's future now rests with the state government after North
Sydney Council and developers Metro Edgley failed to resolve an impasse on several key
issues.
The government intends to transfer management of the Luna Park Reserve Trust to the
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Urban affairs and Planning, Andrew Refshauge, announced
this afternoon that his department had stepped in to take planning control of the foreshore
icon.
"This will ensure Luna Park is considered as an integral part of the government's plans
to protect and enhance Sydney Harbour for all Australians," Dr Refshauge said.
The decision to wrest the decision-making process from North Sydney Council comes almost
18 months after Metro Edgley first lodged its $70 million plan and after urgent talks
about a month ago failed to allay the council's concerns nor placate the developers.
The major sticking points for the North Sydney Council and North Sydney residents have
been the perceived problems of traffic flow and the developer's proposed car park for
500 vehicles.
The historical controversial problems of the Big Dipper and associated noise levels
had been ruled out in the plans, as the Big Dipper would be replaced by a permanent circus
arena.
Car park spaces, however, are a fundamental problem because Metro Edgley deems 500
spaces necessary to ensure Luna Park's commercial viability.
The North Sydney Council, however, rejected 500 cars but were was prepared to allow
100 car park spaces.
"That's a nonsense," said Metro Edgley managing director Peter Hearne.
"Car parking is at the heart of viability for our project because if you are a function
centre you need parking."
"None of the traffic authorities have said that traffic our proposal would generate
would be unacceptable."
Annual gate numbers for the proposed permanent development were estimated to be about
1 million in comparison to less than 300,000 at present, when Luna Park is only open at
weekends and during school holidays.
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority chief executive officer, Greg Robinson, said there
were car parks near Luna Park, such as the North Sydney Bowls Club, that could be investigated
for expansion as well as the possibility of a car park under nearby parkland.
He also believed that current public transport - a ferry which drops passengers at
the feet of the "big face" of Luna Park, trains, and buses which terminated at the foreshore
end of Olympic Drive, were in the developer's favour.
Dr Refshauge said once the formalities of transferring control from North Sydney Council
to state government had been made there would be comprehensive assessment of all elements
of the Metro-Edgley proposal.
"The government will liaise closely with North Sydney Council and ensure there is public
consultation," he said.
"It's important to get all the elements right - the development, conservation and tourism
- so we don't want to rush it, we want the best result possible."
Mr Hearn estimated it would take six months for Metro Edgley to to get on top of all
the issues before his company could put a revised master plan to State Government for
approval.
The amusement park precinct would include a circus arena with seating for 2,000 people,
theatre, serviced apartments, restaurants and car parking.
AAP mjm/md
KEYWORD: LUNA PARK
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