Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has knocked back emergency heritage listing for Thompson Square, but will write to the NSW government requesting the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project be “reconsidered”.
Mr Frydenberg made the statement in a letter received by Macquarie MP Susan Templeman on February 15, referring to her request for Thompson Square to be included in the National Heritage List using emergency provisions contained in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“The Australian Heritage Council’s historic experts have concluded that Thompson Square does not meet the threshold for inclusion in the National Heritage List. I have therefore decided not to emergency list the place,” the letter stated. “Thompson Square is recognised as having State significance and is included in the NSW State Heritage Register.
“I have written to the Premier of NSW, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, to request that she reconsiders the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project to lessen the impact on the heritage values of the place.”
While the letter is dated December 21, it was not received by Ms Templeman’s office until last week when staff became aware of it during a phone call to the minister’s office.
Ms Templeman said while the response wasn’t what Thompson Square supporters were hoping for in terms of National Emergency Listing, “it doesn’t actually change the current situation”.
“What is significant and positive in the federal minister’s response is that he recognises the heritage importance of the Thompson Square precinct and has urged the NSW Premier to “reconsider the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project”,” she said.
“The minister’s statement shows that, at a federal level, there is a bipartisan view that this place has heritage significance and deserves to be saved. The NSW government needs to take the advice of their federal environment minister and the only way to “lessen the impact on the heritage values of the place” is to consider alternate bridge locations that bypass Thompson Square.”
CAWB president Harry Terry while the group would have preferred the emergency listing, it had been“heartened” by Mr Frydenberg’s letter.
“We recognise this is bipartisan support for our campaign,” he stated. “CAWB has submitted an application for emergency listing for Windsor Bridge itself, given it has already state heritage listing and its construction techniques were unique.
“CAWB will be submitting later this week an application for the Government Domain of which Thompson Square was but a part.
“CAWB will continue to fight for a decent traffic solution for Windsor whilst protecting its most valuable asset - its heritage.”