Monday 10 February 20 20
COUNCIL SUBMITS PLANNING PROPOSAL TO PROTECT ICE RINK
NSW Government confirms it will not heritage list the iconic venue
The City of Ryde has prepared a n urgent planning proposal to heritage list the Macquarie Ice Rink in an
attempt to protect the iconic venue’s future once again.
The move by Council comes after the NSW Government confirmed it had no intention to heritage list the
ice rink, despite placing an interim heritage order on the venue just over a year ago, prior to t he 2019 State
Election.
The interim heritage order was placed on the Macquarie Ice Rink by the NSW Government after a
development application to redevelop the Macquarie Centre and demolish the ice rink drew widespread
condemnation.
Despite the interim h eritage order, the State Heritage Register Committee concluded that the Macquarie
Ice Rink was unlikely to be of state significance and recommended the NSW Government not proceed with
listing the venue on the State Heritage Register. This is contrary to an independent report commissioned
by Council that found Macquarie Ice Rink should be listed as a heritage item.
City of Ryde, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the decision by the NSW Government not to heritage list the
Macquarie Ice Rink places its future at serious risk.
“The State Government promised to protect the Macquarie Ice Rink, b ut they have failed to follow through,”
Clr Laxale said.
“This is despite Ryde MP Victor Dominello being quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald on 2 February 2019
as saying.
‘The heritage order says we now recognise this (the Macquarie Ice Rink) as a place of significance –
cultural or recreational significance – and if you want to modify it, you’ll have to go to the NSW Heritage
Council. ‘
“What makes this even wors e is that Victor Dominello’s political grandstanding meant that Council could
not proceed with its own interim heritage order to protect the rink.
“The government ‘s decision not to protect the rink now leaves the venue open to demolition desp ite their
promises.”
Clr Laxale said the City of Ryde will now proceed with its resolution from January 2019 to seek local
heritage protection for the Macquarie Ice Rink under the Ryde Local Environmental Plan.
“The Macquarie Ice Rink is an icon of our City, and the community has told us over and over again that
they want it saved. Council will now commence the process to do everything in its power to achieve this.”
The City of Ryde’s urgent planning proposal to heritage list the Macquarie Ice Rink under the Ryde Local
Environmental Plan is on the agenda of the Ryde Local Plann ing Panel mee ting scheduled for Thursday.
13 February.
