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Save Fitzroy Gardens  Keep the Heritage Mosaic! We have written to Council asking for it to advise if the mosaic (see photo above) in the surrounding wall of the playground will be demolished or retained in situ as part of Council's alterations. The mosaic is an outstanding and expensive work and part of a triptych including both the Kings Cross Community and Information Centre entrance glass awning and its in-floor foyer mosaic. The central theme is the organic growth and positive nature of life. The exterior mosaic includes the words (in clockwise order) "Macleay St - Fountain - Elizabeth Bay House - The Strip - Fitzroy Gardens - Wayside Chapel" and relates to our local identity. It references heritage items and other landmarks the community considers significant. The mosaic triptych was installed by the former South Sydney City Council in 1997 and is part of the community's social fabric. The mosaics were created by well-known artists Steven Vella and Lizzie Buckmaster-Dove in 1997. Steven described the three mosaics as "decorative door feature", "awning design" and "feature light". The mosaics were commissioned by the SSCC in the following circumstances. The Kings Cross Community Centre and the Library (originally the Florence Bartley Library) were to be located upstairs in the Rex Building, but the upstairs area was instead turned into meeting rooms. The Kings Cross Community Centre was located on the ground floor level, and it and the associated artworks (the mosaics) are community benefits that were part of the trade-off that the community were given in return for the Rex development going ahead. Two Wins Following representations to Council by the Friends of the Fitzroy Gardens, Council confirmed the following: - Bernie Houghton statue to remain in place - Current Fitzroy Gardens seating to be retained Recent developments in the Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross: Council neglects broken tiles in the Fitzroy Gardens Council neglect: out-of-order toilets in the Fitzroy Gardens Sign the Petition: change inappropriate colours and materials in the new Playground design Another broken promise by Council: no DA will be required for the Playground redevelopment ABS Census: number of children decline in Postcode 2011 Fitzroy Gardens Playground makeover - Round 2 On 28 October 2012, Council release a revised set of plans. Yes, the footprint would be smaller and the musical instruments would not go ahead, but the designs still had serious problems. This time Council gave the public just five days to review the plans before a vote was taken in Council's Environment Committee on 5 November that these plans be sent to a full Council meeting on 12 November. Despite just five business days elapsing since the release of these revised plans (with many unattractive new design elements) and almost zero community debate about them, the Environment Committee voted (with two dissenting votes, those of Clr Forster and Clr Vithoulkas) that the "refined concept design for the upgrade of the Fitzroy Gardens playground" proceed to a full Council meeting on 12 November. More details... Fitzroy Gardens Playground makeover - Round 1 Council's first plans for a makeover of the Fitzroy Gardens Playground including an increase in the size of playground by almost four times, noisy musical instruments and a blocking of the traffic to and from the Gardens and shops. And of course Council was breaking its promise of May 2011 by these plans. The consultation period ended on 31 August 2012 with an overwhelming rejection by locals. More details... El Alamein Fountain Ugly Black Posts Wreck the View of the El Alamein Fountain In late July 2012 ugly black posts were placed around the beloved El Alamein Fountain, wrecking the whole vista. Heritage Listings and Protection Heritage List ALL of the Fitzroy Gardens! Despite the Fitzroy Gardens and the El Alamein Fountain both being on the National Trust (NSW) heritage register, the Sydney City Council has only sent the Fountain (and not the Gardens) to the Heritage Council for listing. The Battle for the Fitzroy Gardens, 2010 Sydney Council's attempt to "clear fell" the heritage Fitzroy Gardens was finally stopped by a long and determined struggle by local residents. Here are some important reports on that battle: Council to rip the heart out of the Cross Save Fitzroy Gardens rally, November 2010 Louis Nowra speech
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