[Greens-Media] (Hale MLC) Greens oppose sale of old Bowral Courthouse

[Colin Hesse]

Media release

>From Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for Heritage

28 May 2010    - for immediate use       
            
Greens oppose sale of old Bowral Courthouse
 
The Greens MP Sylvia Hale has added her voice to community opposition
the sale of old Bowral Courthouse this weekend.
 
“The sale of this heritage building is an act of vandalism against
the heritage of Bowral, said Sylvia Hale, Greens spokesperson for
Heritage.
 
“The old courthouse, built in 1896 from rare local trachyte stone,
should be retained in community hands in accordance with the wishes of
local community.
 
“I support those many members of the Bowral community who will be
protesting at the sale of this building from 11.30am this Saturday, and
hope their presence will deter potential buyers and force the Government
to change its mind.
 
“Wingecarribee Shire Council are to be congratulated for writing to
the Attorney-General to request that the building be retained for
community uses, and it is arrogant of the Government to reject the
advice of the local community by selling the old courthouse.
 
“The reasonable request of the Father Ted Kennedy Aboriginal Fund for
the building to be put out to tender so any sale can at least be subject
to public review has also be ignored.
 
“The current tenants, the local Aboriginal Cultural Centre, have yet
to find alternative accommodation, and at the very least the Government
should have postponed the sale of the building until new premises had
been found for the Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
 
“It is particularly appalling that the sale of this building is being
forced through in Reconciliation Week, and at the very least it shows
the State Government to be completely insensitive.
 
“The current location of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre is ideal,
located as it is in the old public precinct which contains the old
library, former council chambers, parts of which are used as an arts
centre, and the police station.
 
“As the old Courthouse has heritage protection and is located in a
cultural precinct it is difficult to believe that its sale will realise
a significant amount of money to the State, and as such it represents
little more than selling out the heritage of Bowral for much less than
the modern day equivalent of forty pieces of silver.
 
“Once again this Government has shown itself out of touch with the
community and insensitive to our valuable heritage,” said Ms Hale.
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124