Historic Handover of Callan Park Master Plan

The long fight to save Callan Park and Rozelle Mental Hospital took an historic turn today, with Leichhardt Council and the Friends of Callan Park formally presenting the Callan Park Master Plan to the Minister for Planning, Brad Hazzard MP.

Callan Park is the third largest open space in Sydney and all 60 hectares is listed on the State Heritage Register.

Mayor of Leichhardt Cr Rochelle Porteous said that anyone who visited Callan Park cannot help but be struck by its beauty and its extraordinary location on Iron Cove and Sydney Harbour.

“This beautiful Park belongs to the people because it has been saved – on many occasions – by the people,” she said.

Council recognised the urgent need for a strategic Master Plan to guide the care and control of the Park as a single entity following efforts by the Previous State Government to carve Callan Park into separate leases – including 40 hectares to be managed by Leichhardt Council.

“As the then Government was not prepared to fund development of the Master Plan, Council took on the responsibility,” said Cr Porteous

“Following 18 months of community consultation and preparation the Plan was formally presented to the State Government today.”

The Master Plan has been built around the aims of the Callan Park Act: protecting open space and heritage, providing space for recreation, and developing health, community and education facilities.

Preparation included a comprehensive community engagement process in which over 2000 people took part through a series of workshops, drop in events and a dedicated interactive website.

That consultation showed overwhelming support for Callan Park to remain a single site, and for a Trust to govern the Site, which the Plan recommends through the establishment of the Callan Park and Broughton Hall Trust.

There was strong community support for a continued Mental Health role for Callan Park. Mental Health users are key to the Master Plan, included in on site projects such as cafes and community gardens, with a recommendation for a minimum of 30% of on site employment to be filled by mental health consumers.

Sport and recreation space also features, with plans for the development of three sporting fields, a skate park and a city farm with public access.

“The fight to save Callan Park from developers is a proud history of the long collaboration between the Friends of Callan Park and Leichhardt Council,” said Cr Porteous.

“I am extremely proud to have been able to present this Plan, and thank the Friends of Callan Park and former Mayor and now Balmain MP Jamie Parker for their work in bringing it to fruition.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the State Government to ensure the Master Plan is adopted and to then enable its staged implementation through the Trust.”

CALLAN PARK MASTERPLAN MONDAY 31 JANUARY 2011 COMMENCING AT 7.00PM

Leichhardt Council last considered this matter at its meeting on 7th December 2010 and resolved to defer consideration pending the receipt of additional information. 

In response, Leichhardt Council will be holding an extraordinary meeting in Leichhardt Town Hall on Monday 31 January 2011 commencing at 7.00pm.  The purpose of the meeting is to consider the report and additional information provided in relation to the Draft Callan Park Masterplan.  A copy of the officer’s report and associated documents can be viewed on Councils web page at http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/ from Tuesday 25 January 2011.

Draft Master Plan Report

Leichhardt Council considered a report about the Draft Masterplan at its meeting on Tuesday 7th December 2010 and requested additional information before making its decision in relation to the formal exhibition of the Draft Masterplan. In summary, the information requested by the Council comprises:

1. Maps detailing building and built form demolitions, including details of the structures history, the reason for demolition and the structures current condition

2. A revised financial model that:

   - precludes market rents for Non Government Organisations
   - excludes non-core costs
   - explores governance models that manage the delivery of services through third parties

3. The percentage of the State Heritage Budget the preferred proposal represents.

4. A separate document for community consultation. This document to contain only the:

   - Final Draft Master Plan overlays
   - The alternative financial plans
   - The Business Case for the Master Plan
   - The alternative Governance Structures

Leichhardt Council will next consider this matter at an Extraordinary meeting in the Leichhardt Town Hall commencing 7.00pm Monday 31 January 2011.

In the meantime please do not hesitate to review the Draft Callan Park Masterplan by going to:

   -  The Leichhardt Council website to view the Council report and Minutes - http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/Ordinary-Meeting.html
   - The Callan Park your plan website to view all of the background documents leading up to the Council Report and Minutes

Draft Master Plan Launched

More than 100 members of the community attended the launch of the draft Master Plan at Leichhardt Town Hall on Friday 8 October. Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker  said “The Master Plan is a once in a generation opportunity providing Sydney with a community led plan for generations to come.  Callan park is one of the largest open spaces in the centre of Sydney, located in the fourth most intensely developed local government area in Australia. It’s important we get it right.”  The Mayor invited everyone to respond to the draft Master Plan online or in person at one of two drop in events: Sydney College of the Arts on Saturday 9, Sunday 10 and Monday 11 October or Balmain Town Hall on Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 October.

Expressions of Interest

This week also sees the launch of an online Expression of Interest for community groups or organisations wanting to offer community, health or education services at Callan Park in accordance with the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002.  This non-binding Expression of Interest will allow individuals, groups and organisations to express an interest in up to 3 buildings at Callan Park.  The Expression of Interest calls for details about proposed services and investigates organisational structure and financial capacity.  This information will assist Leichhardt Council determine how quickly it may be able to realise the Master Plan vision for Callan Park.  For more information click here.

Mental Health Project Principle

Do you Agree or Disagree with this Project Principle based on the 3 recurring themes of the Mental Health Workshop: Wellness, Community and Recovery? 

'Ensure that Callan Park develops as a place for strengthening and restoring mental health and community wellness'

Have your say here

History Week event at Callan Park

The Friends of Callan Park have worked with Sydney College of the Arts to develop 'Faces in the Park', a one day outdoor poster exhibition telling stories of  attachment to Callan Park.  Contributors include former patients, parents, staff, dog walkiers, chook owners and local children who express in the simplest terms their delight in the freedom and magic of the site.

Part of History Week 2010, the free outdoor exhibition will stretch across the landscape from the main gates of Callan Park to Broughton Hall on Sunday 12 September.    Guided walking tours depart the Writers Centre between 11am and 2pm and a circulating bus tour will operate between 11am and 3pm.  Enquiries call Carole Allen   9560 9263

Arts & Cultural Workshop

This week sees an Arts & Cultural workshop at the Sydney College of the Arts in seminar room 1 on Thursday 9 September from 4.00pm.  Facilitated by Marla Guppy, this workshop will consider the creative potential of Callan Park and the way that arts and culture can support physical and mental wellbeing. Light refreshments will be provided so please RSVP by 7th September to Annalene Lourenco or Danielle King at Leichhardt Council on 9367 9285 or by email Leichhardt@lmc.nsw.gov.au.

Workshop 6

Workshop 6 on Saturday 28 August created an opportunity to form natural 'communities of interest' to discuss the sub-principles of the Master Plan and demonstrate how particular interests could contribute to a driving vision of Callan Park as a 'wellness sanctuary'.  More than 60 participants self-selected an interest, making for lively table presentations about Bushcare, Sustainability, Heritage, Arts & Culture, Dogs, Community Gardening, Transport, City Farm, Disability and Services for Older People, and Open Space & Walking.

The workshop was a vivid demonstration of the synergies that can be created through the Master Plan.  Within every large community there are many smaller 'communities of interest' with individuals goals and needs.  The format of this workshop enabled participants to explain and to understand where these goals and needs interlock.  There is strong support for a Master Plan that can deliver the many dimensions of mental and physical wellness envisaged by the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002.

Workshop endorses framework for future mental health services at Callan Park

The Mental Health Workshop on Wednesday 25 August was a significant milestone for the Callan Park Master Plan. 43 attendees (including representatives of key mental health consumer organisations) heard Professor Vaughan Carr report how he had incorporated community submissions into a potential suite of mental health services for Callan Park.

The five areas of focus for mental health services on Callan Park are: 
- Health & Lifestyle
- Vocation & Social
- Residential
- Information & Support
- Education, Training & Research

The workshop endorsed the Master Plans team's proposal to develop a new Project Principle for Mental Health based on the 3 recurring themes of the table discussions: Wellness, Community and Recovery. Of the 7 tables, 6 were in broad agreement and support of the five areas of focus. The role of consumers, carers and mental health practitioners in managing the delivery of mental health services was a strong focus for the night’s discussions. There was also considerable debate about role and scope of research, and about the extent and style of any residential care 'beds' at Callan Park. But for the first time, the community has endorsed a guiding framework within which these debates can occur. Callan Park, with a focus on Wellness, Community and Recovery, could become a new world-leading model of mental health care.