CRAG Camden Residents' Action Group Inc. in Camden, New South Wales, Australia | Community organisation

CRAG Camden Residents' Action Group Inc.

Locality: Camden, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 415 617 368

Address: Camden Residents’ Action Group Inc PO Box 188 2570 Camden, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.crag.org.au/

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25.01.2022 OSO Macarthur Group M9: Read today's Press Release which includes questions to the NSW government on the proposed M9 corridor at https://docs.wixstatic.com//ee6aaa_280a9475444142ed94a775f

24.01.2022 Great news for Camden's priceless heritage. Thank you Councillors.

23.01.2022 Support the Camden Equestrian community - submissions close 25/1/19. https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSeENxNCLBNkn5OGH/viewform

23.01.2022 St John's Heritage Precinct NEWS Parishioners voted 80% YES in favour of selling the horse paddock, Rectory and Alpha Rd property. Bad news. A long battle ahead for the community to save our heritage.

21.01.2022 St John's Church Precinct Camden: Sale Alert Despite the Precinct's fully recognised heritage value and State listing St Johns Anglican Church is considering the sale of the horse paddock and Rectory. An information session with question time is to be held for Parishioners after each service on 16th September. Parishioners who have attended regularly over the past three months will be entitled to vote after services on 23rd September to inform the Parish Council whether to... proceed with an offer of $7.7m from the Moran Group to build an aged care facility. The community entreats each Parishioner to empathetically consider the impacts on others and Love your neighbour as yourself. The Macarthur family designed the town with St Johns Hill as it aesthetic, social, cultural and spiritual focus and gifted the land much land including what remains within the Precinct and built the Rectory (and Church) for the people of Camden. The Church has not indicated any intention of consulting the community. Heritage experts say NO. The wider community says NO. Clearly the heritage character and value of the original private town of Camden would be severely compromised as well as the carefully designed vistas to and from the town and Camden Park. This outcome also has economic impacts on current and future businesses who rely on Camdens unique character within greater Sydney. The liveability of Camden would be diminished greatly. The neighbourhood says NO. The size of the offer indicates that the horse paddock would be highly and densely developed to accommodate an economic return. Such development is not consistent with current zoning, Camdens status as a Heritage Conservation Area or the Precincts State heritage listing. The developer is required to argue its case under state legislation for senior housing which has a complex interrelationship with other planning instruments. The current state government has been known to put development ahead of heritage, even though developers could and should seek appropriate locations. If approved by the State government most of the sale proceeds would be used by the Church to construct a 400-seat worship centre beside the original church. Clearly this sale would result in an irrevocably loss of our European heritage. Background information is available at https://www.crag.org.au/st-johns-church-precinct-sale-comm/

20.01.2022 This proposed development is of major concern being in a hazardous flood zone and in Camden Heritage Conservation Area. It is not compliant in height or scale with planning provisions intended to protect the heritage value and rural character of the town which was founded on Camden Park as a private town by the Macarthurs from the late 1830s.

20.01.2022 In an extraordinary move Council's unanimous motion on 13 June 2017 to require all development as St John's Precinct to be in the public domain was overturned on 11 Oct 2017. The process employed would seem to be in contravention of Council's code of practice. Given the community's interest in this heritage precinct and its conservation Council should provide an explanation.

19.01.2022 Camden Council will consider its position and whether to make a submission on additional 150 poker machines being installed in Narellan at its meeting on 13 February 2018. What do you think? CRAG's objection is at http://www.crag.org.au/recent-submissions/

19.01.2022 A proposed secondary worship centre at the St John's Anglican Church site is closer to reality following the Parish Council endorsement of plans to sell land to the Moran Group. Thoughts?

18.01.2022 Protecting Camden's Heritage is one of my core priorities! Please come along this Tuesday from 6pm at the Civic Centre and tell Penny Sharpe and myself what it is that you want protected in our beauitful Camden area. This election is vital for the future of Camden!

18.01.2022 Camden Township State Heritage Listing. Where do the Candidates for the NSW State election stand? Camden township is most worthy to be state heritage listed.Why should we have to prove this every time there is a development proposal that disrespects the town's place in early European history, its human-scale and fine-grained character and that work against its competitive advantage of being different. Only one town in NSW is currently on the Register (Braidwood). CRAG's 2...016 heritage study and nomination for Camden's local heritage conservation area to be included on the register, which was endorsed by historians from Sydney, NSW and Wollongong universities, included an analysis comparing the cultural and historic significance of Camden to Braidwood (the only town currently listed) and other towns such as Berry. Camden was found to be unique and to meet not just the required one or two criteria for listing, but unarguably most and arguably all criteria. https://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au//labor-promises-to-pu/

16.01.2022 An open letter to the people of St Johns about your sale. We know Jesus gave you two commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Your neighbours dont want a $37.5+ million development on Camdens most iconic site.... Build your new centre, let us help, but please love your community and vote NO to the sale.

16.01.2022 Not all parishioners are pleased.

16.01.2022 Outer Sydney Orbital An Outer Sydney Orbital Macarthur Action Group has formed following the news in late March of a planned orbital affecting our heritage and environment and which is planned to pass through Cobbitty, Ellis Lane, Grasmere and surrounds. The following link can keep you up to date with what is happening, and help you find out the best ways to have your say and meet with like-minded people. Please share amongst your friends and affected people. https://www.facebook.com/groups/OSOMacarthur/about/

15.01.2022 Please attend if you possibly can.

15.01.2022 From The District Report An impression of what the proposed three storey 10 metre building at 20 Elizabeth Street, which currently has a cottage, will look like and residents and supporters of heritage are concerned it challenges Camdens conservation area. Size matters in heritage precinct A three storey (10 metre high) development proposed for 20 Elizabeth Street, Camden is provoking the ire of local residents and even some councillors who believe the green light to this s...Continue reading

15.01.2022 "St John's needs to be protected from being broken up, divided and sold - because once it's gone, it's gone."

14.01.2022 Notice 20 Elizabeth St Camden A review of the refusal of this over-height proposal within the heritage conservation area of the 1840 township founded by the Macarthur family will be publicly heard by the Local Planning Panel 2 pm Tuesday 15 October at Council Chambers Oran Park.

13.01.2022 An appeal has been lodged against the refusal of 20 Elizabeth St Camden proposal (see 13 May post below). The DA has been modified. It now includes a max height of 10.3 m (an increase from what was refused at 10.1m), 47% above the building height limit in the Heritage Conservation Area. Objections may be lodged with Camden Council by 12 September. Appeal (and original) documents are at https://planning.camden.nsw.gov.au//ApplicationDetails/01/

11.01.2022 PUBLIC MEETING PROTECTING CAMDEN'S HERITAGE WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 5, 2019, 6:00 PM WHERE: Camden Civic Centre (Ferguson Room), Oxley Street Camden More details and registration at https://tinyurl.com/camdenheritage

11.01.2022 A very quick survey for Camden council - let your voice be heard! It is great to see rural setting getting a mention and the chance to add heritage details in the 'other' sections.

11.01.2022 St John's Heritage Precinct sale The community votes NO (76%).

11.01.2022 Beck's checking out the rich culture and history of Camden! Do you call the Macarthur Region home?

09.01.2022 Parishioners are being appealed to to think very carefully about whether to vote for the sale of St John's horse paddock and Rectory, not only by the general community but also the Macarthur family who state: The heritage of St John's, its standing in the community and the trust placed in it by members of the family that gave the land will be tarnished should the sale proceed. The proposed sale of land seems to place ego above respect and dismisses any obligation for res...ponsible custodianship of a gift given to the Church to maintain and preserve for future generations. See the Macarthur open letter to Parishioners at http://www.tdr.com.au/images/issues/tdr2119.pdf

09.01.2022 Meet The Candidates Forum 11 March 2019 Don't forget the free community forum on Monday commencing at 6.30pm at the Camden Civic Centre in Oxley Street Camden. Speak with candidates about the issues that are important to you. Questions and an open forum session will be managed via the MC. Who will best represent Camden's interests? Who will you vote for in the State election on 23 March? All candidates are given the opportunity to address the meeting at the start and to make some closing comments. Unfortunately Peter Sidgreaves (Liberal) has advised he has another commitment that evening.

09.01.2022 Who really owns St John's Precinct Camden? If you think, as most do, that it belongs to the people you are correct. Research into the original documents shows that the Macarthur family set out specific conditions for its use and that it is held under charitable trusts for the people of Camden forever. More at http://www.crag.org.au//Media-Release-St-Johns-Heritage-Pr

07.01.2022 PARISHIONERS PLEASE VOTE NO SALE

05.01.2022 Residents say proposed developments are putting a "cloud" over the town's historic precinct. Do you think Camden should be heritage listed?

05.01.2022 Please put your comments here but also on the Advertiser post.

04.01.2022 There is a DIY Petition Kit - download and start collecting signatures - https://www.stjohnscamden.info/Resources/DIYPetitionKit.pdf

03.01.2022 Pictured: At the July 9 Camden Council meeting Labor councillors Cindy Cagney, Ashleigh Cagney and Paul Farrow with community members in favour of safeguarding ...St Johns Anglican Church and its lands as a heritage precinct by having it included on the national heritage list. Push for priority listing of church precinct An added layer of protection was put to Camden Council to make sure the townships historic St Johns Anglican Church precinct is better preserved but rather than having unanimous support some councillors opted for more discussions before making a final decision. Labor councillor, Cindy Cagney, put up a notice of motion at last Tuesday nights council meeting to start the procedure to secure the area, which has become controversial as a result of the church hierarchy stating in 2016 its intention to sell the land known as the horse paddock and old rectory to pay for a new worship building. Cr Cagney moved that: That council urgently writes to the Federal Minister for the Environment, The Hon Sussan Ley MP and the Australian Heritage Council to request the addition of the St Johns Church Precinct to the next Priority Assessment List of places to be assessed for inclusion on the National Heritage List. Cr Cagney said it was all about starting the discussion. She said the church precinct was already on the local and state heritage list and the next step has to be the national register. The councillor said the land where the church stands was gifted by the Macarthur family in the 1840s and has become an integral part of Camden. She said the intent of the motion was for it to go onto priority listing. There was a large support base for Cr Cagneys motion including several people speaking on the issue. Fletcher Joss, who was heavily involved with St Johns Church, initially broached the subject of the priority listing with the councils Heritage Advisory Committee. He was one of the speakers at the meeting. Achieving a listing on the National Heritage List is a long process with many stages. There is a rigorous investigation and assessment. A successful nomination will take years, Mr Joss said. The St Johns Precinct is currently a nominated place on the National List. A nominated place is one passing an initial assessment on data adequacy. Eventually, the Australian Heritage Council will assess the nomination. There are currently 70 nominated places, with 12 under assessment. Each year a priority assessment list is constructed from the nominated places and passed to the Australian Heritage Council for assessment over the next few years. Some years none are selected, others as many as five are selected. There are resource constraints which determine how long it takes for a place to reach the priority assessment list. In essence, we are competing against other communities for funding from the federal government. He wanted the council to support the formal assessment of the precinct by Australias foremost heritage experts. Liberal Cr Lara Symkowiak asked whether the church was approached on the matter and if there were any financial implications from the proposal and suggested that it be discussed at a workshop this week with all relevant parties in attendance before a decision was made. The motion was passed by the councillors with the deferment. St Johns Church was contacted for a comment. In late 2018 the Moran Health Care Group made a $7.7 million offer to the church to by the horse paddock, old rectory at Menangle Road and a smaller parcel of land on View Street to build an aged care facility. The group is still with the 12 month period of making a final decision.

03.01.2022 Outer Sydney Orbital: Socially and environmentally this orbital is a disastrous idea. It is un-Australian and unfair to families who are affected by its proposed gazettal, both financially and emotionally. Is it really just in the wrong place or is it just plain wrong? Please keep up the pressure by having your say and sharing.

02.01.2022 Good news for Camden's heritage https://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au//camden-town-centres/

02.01.2022 20 Elizabeth St Camden. The appeal against the refusal of this proposed over-development that exceeded the height limit of the Heritage Conservation Area of the 1840 Macarthur town by 47% was REFUSED by the Local Planning Panel on 15 October 2019. CRAG's presentation is at http://www.crag.org.au//15-October-2019-LPP-20-Elizabeth-S The reasons for refusal are at https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au//CLPP-MINUTES-15-October-201

02.01.2022 https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au//42675587e16f5ebf7563120

01.01.2022 St Johns Church Precinct State heritage listing for St Johns Church Precinct in Camden was announced in Parliament on Thursday 16 August 2018 and will be gazetted on 24 September 2018. The pursuit of state listing has taken dedication and tireless hours of research and correspondence since an intention to sell much of the area first came to CRAGs notice in November 2016. On behalf of the wider community and future generations Camden Residents Action Group particularly thanks CRAGs tireless researcher and liaising contact with the Office of Environment and Heritage as well as its members, its supportive friends and alliances. https://www.crag.org.au/st-johns-church-precinct-sale-comm/