Six years after the Redfern-Waterloo Authority gazetted key heritage buildings at Eveleigh, essential conservation maintenance is being planned for the Chief Mechanical Engineers (CME) Building and the Scientific Services Building. The third heritage building in this precinct, the deteriorating Telecommunications Equipment Centre, is not mentioned.
The SMDA has engaged the Government Architect’s Office and Heritage Services Branch. Work has commenced surveying hazardous materials, removing intrusive building elements and undertaking a preliminary archaeological analysis of the CME garden. A further stage will involve the specification, tendering and construction of essential building maintenance according to the SMDA website.
Restoring the CME building will cost more than a new building. The RWA planned for the buyer of the eastern portion of North Eveleigh to restore this building and discounted the site purchase accordingly. Given the delay and deterioration, the government should finance the heritage building restorations, not just preventative maintenance. The buildings would then deliver their planned uses earlier, enabling cost recovery against the higher site sale price.
In the absence of a Redfern Waterloo Heritage Taskforce, Council is exploring its potential role in Eveleigh Heritage. This will be important when the SMDA is replaced by Urbangrowth NSW in 2013 and if North Eveleigh is declared an Enterprise Zone.
