WE WANT OUR HERITAGE LISTED CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT POST OFFICE!

DA-475/2017 has been lodged by Australia Post on behalf of some developer or other - there is an option to purchase which has already changed hands for $15million - for the demolition of our almost 100 year old heritage listed Bondi Beach Post Office building, along with the functioning post office itself, a focal point for the community with its planters and shade trees.

We are concerned that the curtilage of the current building is less than the allowable curtilage for the space, which raises questions about where the developer intends to build to. The allowable curtilage cuts through the significant street shade trees in their planters. Is this why they are being demolished?

This is a heritage listed building meaning it is a place of cultural significance. According to the The Burra Charter 2013, Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations.

Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects.

The applicant - NOT the developer - descirbes this as a partial demolition. What does this mean and how do we know that the eventual developer won't just lodge an amended DA and totally demolish it?  Note also the reference to total demolition in the Geotechnical Report.

The fabric, or physical structure, is one small part of the cultural significance of a building, and the fabric being suggested for retention in this DA is insignificant in this regard.

In fact there are questions about the land itself, which is Commonwealth land and therefore public land, being offered for sale without any community consideration as to whether this is acceptable. It is impossible to separate the fact that this heritage listed building is actually on public land owned by the people and used by the people in a culturally significant manner for almost 100 years,

There is also a concern that this whole process is flawed and possibly contains some hidden agendas where money is being made at the expense of the taxpayers.  This concern is premised by the fact that the post office was sold over 2 years ago to Jamie Nemtsas, who then sold it to Taylor Constructions for $15million. What are the conditions of these options? Why are they remaining hidden?

This DA is about a whole lot more than a partial demolition of a heritage building.

This is public land - who gave the Government the authority to sell it off?