Mel Gibson, Richard Roxburgh join NIDA vs. UNSW car park brawl

Mel Gibson and Richard Roxburgh have signed an explosive letter sent to the University of NSW, warning a new project risks NIDA’s survival.

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) have recruited Hollywood superstars Mel Gibson and Richard Roxburgh to join the fight against the University of NSW over the future of their shared car park.

It comes as the Sydney East Planning Panel will on Tuesday make a public determination on whether the University should be allowed to proceed with plans to transform the site into a giant student accommodation precinct.

The superstars and several other prominent NIDA graduates have all signed a strongly-worded letter sent to UNSW Vice Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs on Monday, which has been obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

Mel Gibson is one of 12 NIDA alumni who have signed a strongly-worded email to USNW, opposing new student accomodation.

The letter claimed the proposed project on Anzac Parade “threatens the future of… one of Australia’s most significant cultural and educational institutions, and in doing so, the next generation of talent.”

“If you push ahead with the current UNSW/Iglu development application… NIDA will endure 3-5 years of construction within just 7 metres of its doorstep. This will compromise patron and visitor safety, several theatres will be unusable” the graduates said.

“Based on the current plans, NIDA estimates the impact caused by the development will involve cost and losses anticipated to be $11.4 million in the first 12 months alone. The financial impact in the first year is close to a third of the NIDA budget for 2025.”

The letter is co-signed by 12 NIDA alumni, including actors Mel Gibson, Richard Roxburgh, Heather Mitchell, Essie Davis, Robyn Nevin and Rob Collins.

Richard Roxburgh, when he appeared as Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest, for Sydney Theatre Company.

It is the latest escalation in a fierce brawl between NIDA and UNSW over the car park on Anzac Parade at Kensington.

UNSW has signed a 99-year lease with property developer Iglu, who want to turn the site into a giant student accommodation precinct, with towers as high as 16 storeys and room for 900 students.

Insiders believe the project will largely be embraced by international students, as is the case with other Iglu developments in Sydney, where student rooms are advertised for up to $900 a week.

The car park at Kensington, which Iglu and UNSW want to turn into a giant student accomodation precinct. Picture: Supplied

In a statement, the University of NSW said it was “committed to building student housing” and claimed it had “consulted extensively with NIDA, with more than 40 direct engagements”, which resulted in “significant amendments of the Development Application.”

However, NIDA immediately fired back, saying there had been only been a dozen formal meetings with either Iglu or the University.

NIDA CEO Liz Hughes said “we have been completely ignored and our issues have not been addressed. We told UNSW in March 2023 that the development at 6.875m from NIDA Building would mean that we couldn’t operate the way that we operate now. They ignored it and filed the DA.”

Randwick City Council are also long-time opponents of the UNSW and Iglu development.