The approval of a Development Application to demolish the overpowering concrete control tower that dominates the Barangaroo Headland Park is good news for the new character of the precinct, says the Urban Taskforce.
“If a massive concrete tower was proposed today to be constructed amongst the heritage houses of Millers Point there would be outrage from heritage bodies,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “It is amazing that the National Trust and Heritage bodies have considered this oppressive structure to be worth listing. The tower represents one of the most destructive periods of development around Sydney Harbour when headlands and fine grained finger wharves were bulldozed for massive flat concrete tarmacs for container wharves.”
“The incredible reforming of the Millers Point Headland as a public park has erased the era of massive concrete slabs and this is now reinforced by the NSW Government’s sensible decision to allow the demolition of the control tower. “
“The Heritage Minister is to be congratulated for not supporting the listing of the tower as being of State Significance despite strong representation from heritage bodies.”
“The Urban Taskforce is concerned with the growing number of proposals for heritage listing that seem to be trying to stop development. A number of recent Interim Heritage Orders look like they have been advocated for by groups against development rather than focussed on preserving heritage. Recent examples include the Lansdowne building in Neutral Bay and the Alexandria Hotel in Eveleigh.
“The current trend by some heritage groups to advocate for the listing of raw concrete structures because they represent the ‘Brutalist’ style can lead to the protection of unfriendly buildings. A better approach is to enable a reworking of these structures to improve amenity.”
“Heritage protection must also consider the broader character of a precinct rather than focus on a single object. The control tower hovering over the heritage precinct of Millers Point is an example of the importance of the precinct over the object.”
