Update Wednesday
Toyota has made a commitment to work with Sutherland Shire Council to ensure the future use of its Woolooware Bay site “considers” community expectations.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce reported on a meeting he had with Toyota representatives, who flew from Melbourne on Tuesday (see earlier story below).
Cr Pesce said said he and council’s general manager Scott Phillips met senior executives from Toyota Australia to discuss the company’s planned exit from the site.
“The meeting is the most recent in a series of discussions between council and Toyota,” Cr Pesce said.
“Both parties have agreed to work together to ensure the future use of the site considers the expectations of Toyota and the community.
“Toyota has expressed a strong desire to have a positive legacy when it leaves the Sutherland Shire and understands the community’s interest in the land.
“Toyota executives indicated the company is on track to end most operations at the site in late 2018 and will likely vacate the site in the first half of 2019.
“Toyota is continuing its internal investigations into how its Woolooware Bay site fits into the company’s plans and has undertaken to contact council later this year to discuss this further.”
Tuesday story
A move by Sutherland Shire Council to look at rezoning the Toyota site at Woolooware Bay open space drew a quick response from the car company.
Toyota requested an urgent meeting with the council, leading to a senior executive flying from Melbourne to meet mayor Carmelo Pesce this afternoon (Tuesday).
The request followed the Leader’s online report of the open space resolution, moved by Cr Kent Johns, which was passed at the last council meeting.
Toyota was due to transfer its remaining operations from Woolooware Bay by the end of 2018 following the cessation of its car manufacturing in Australia.
There is speculation the car company has been talking to potential buyers about seeking to have the site rezoned for housing.
Cr Pesce said yesterday Toyota officials came to see him about three months ago, after a previous Leader report the council had been “left in the dark” about its future plans for the site.
“They said they were about a year behind schedule [in leaving the site] and they had received a number of submissions from people who were interested in it,” he said.
“I was told, eventually, the council would have a ‘big say’ in it, and they wanted to leave a legacy for the community.”
Cr Johns said he wanted to hear “more than platitudes”.
“Nice words are fantastic, but we want something tangible to view so we can understand what they want to leave as a legacy,” he said.
Toyota did not respond to a request for comment.
The council resolution was to investigate the rezoning option at the time work starts on the next local environmental plan (LEP), which is expected to be next year.
The motion included a condition the investigation be done in such a way that would not result in the council being liable to compulsorily acquire the land.
At present, the land is zoned industrial.
Cr Johns said last week he moved the resolution because “the silence from Toyota is deafening”.
“Because I haven’t heard a firm decision by Toyota on what they intend to do, I want to look at the option of using the site for open space,” he said.
“If you look at the urbanisation of that area, we may or may not need need more open space.
”If they come to us with a proposal for community use that is compatible with the area and is of benefit to the community, I would look to change my mind.
“In the meantime I have no idea what they are thinking and open space seems to be the most appropriate use.”
Cr Johns, when he was mayor, and the present mayor, Cr Pesce, ruled out the council rezoning the property for residential, although Toyota could apply directly to the state government.
Both councillors said the site would be suitable for educational uses, such as a university campus or school.
In 2015, the council had discussions with the University of Wollongong (UOW) and the Catholic Education Office in the Sydney archdiocese about possibly using the site.
A Toyota Australia spokeswoman said in February this year the site would not be sold until late 2018 after all operations had been transferred.
“Regarding potential buyers, we won’t be discussing this publicly,” she said.
