North Sydney Council is moving forward with the sale of a street to Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), just weeks after it re-entered negotiations to sell another public road to Redlands.
What happened: Last July, North Sydney Council voted to begin investigating the potential closure and sale of the lower part of Edward Street. The end of this street runs between Shore School and one of its many playing fields.
The section south of Lord Street is proposed to be closed and sold.
Now, the council is opening the decision up to public consultation as it prepares to sell, but a price for the road has not been named.
How much: When asked by the Lorikeet how much selling the road might bag ratepayers, a council spokesperson said “no proposed sale price has been determined, and no valuation has been undertaken”.
Previously, the council CEO was authorised to also consider the possibility of a land swap arrangement, where a “pocket park” would be built in exchange (either wholly or partly) for the street.
While the period of public consultation proceeds, a community working group will also give advice on the sale. This group will consist of two representatives from council, two from Shore, two from the community and the chair of the Waverton Precinct, Ian Grey.
Parking: A spokesperson for council said the closure of the road would remove approximately eight parking spaces, and this impact was something that would be considered in the consultation process.
Context: Despite this current move to sell off land, North Sydney Council has had a somewhat icy relationship with its local private schools as of late.
Last year, Mayor Zoë Baker took aim at the exemption private schools are given from paying rates on the land they own, and called on all private schools in the LGA to make voluntary contributions instead.
All schools declined.
Thumbnail: Sydney Church of England Grammar School.