Demolition of the Women’s Rest Centre in Cronulla Mall has started.
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Workmen moved into Cronulla Mall around 3am this morning and commenced the demolition of the building.
Sutherland Shire Council notified Cronulla businesses on Monday that work would commence this week.
The Women’s Rest Centre will be replaced by a temporary playground. The council has not said what its plans are for the long-term future use of the site.
The decision to close and demolish the Rest Centre was a last-minute addition the resolution by the council at its July 17 meeting to put the draft Cronulla Town Centre Public Domain Master Plan on public exhibition.
The draft master plan does not go on public exhibition until September 1.
Residents rallied last Saturday calling for the return the Women’s Rest Centre to the Master Plan for exhibition and let the residents have their say in its future.
Organisers said about 200 people attended the rally. The council said the number was closer to 80.
A council spokesperson said, “The dismantling of the Cronulla Women’s Rest Centre did commence at 6am this morning as planned with the waste bin arriving on site at 5am.
“Delivery access to this area is restricted to the hours of 12am to 6am to minimise risks to pedestrian safety whilst maintaining access for local businesses.
“There was no dismantling work completed at 3am as communicated.
“A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken between September and November 2016 to assist in developing the Draft Cronulla Public Domain Masterplan.
“A total of 600 stakeholders were consulted through surveys, three street stalls held over a two week period, two participatory workshops with residents and businesses, a workshop with local school students and consultation with the Cronulla Chamber of Commerce. We would like to highlight that during this process a total of six comments (one per cent) were received in support of the Women’s Rest Centre from the 600 participants who were part of the consultation.
“The Cronulla Women’s Rest Centre given its condition, age and only receiving a three-star rating from the Australian Breast Feeding Association will make way for a playground which shade and be fenced for safety which is intended to be open in time for the busy summer season.”
Resident Annette Hogan said the council has acted in a “disgraceful” manner.
“In the dark of the night around 3am the Sutherland Shire Council took our beloved Cronulla Women’s Rest Centre from us, with such determination to execute a community facility never before seen.
“The execution was carried out with what I would equate to Military precision. This is a dark day for the patrons of this beloved facility and for the shire in general.
“If this is an example of how this Council is to operate for the next three years, residents need to be vigilant and never forget who is responsible for this action taken - the 15 current Councillors led by Mayor Carmel Pesce who proposed the Motion to demolish the Centre which was seconded by Steve Simpson.
“Just two weeks after passing a Motion on the Council floor to demolish the Centre the execution was carried out, no consultation, no approvals onsite.
“Residents should be very concerned about the lack of transparency of Council’s actions and the supporters of the Centre will be investigating what agencies can advise on the legality of the Council’s actions.
“The Council has acted in a disgraceful manner with no regard for the community, at the next elections the residents will be reminded of those Councillors who took part in this act of betrayal when the Council who just two years ago (before the last election) in a press release by the then Mayor Kent Johns stated the the Centre was to be retained and run ‘business as usual’.
“People are very upset, older women are crying and also the young mothers we will not forget, we will not let Council treat us like this again.”