Court told decision to get rid of Sirius building was ‘wrong’

There were so many supporters of the Sirius at the Land and Environment court today the hearing had to be moved to a bigger court

• Unions back green ban on Sirius demolition
• Modernist landmark still under threat despite calls for heritage listing

THE importance of the landmark Sirius building in The Rocks was not properly determined by the government when it refused heritage listing, lawyers have argued.

Launching a legal challenge that could block the intended sale and demolition of the social housing block, that sits next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barrister Bruce McClintock blasted Heritage Minister Mark Speakman’s decision in July last year.

Solicitor Elaine Johnson, from the Environmental Defenders Office, said: “Our client argued that the minister did not make a determination as to whether or not the Sirius was important in regards to heritage significance.

“Secondly our client rebutted the Minister’s argument that it would cause undue finical hardship to the state of NSW.”

The government has argued the sale of the building could finance 240 new social housing units in Sydney.

The government intends to sell-off the building for demolition and redevelopment

The legal case may be the final chance for the Save our Sirius foundation to preserve the building, which is home to one remaining tenant - legally blind 90-year-old Myra Demetriou. All the other tenants have been rehoused and the building’s communal areas sealed off.

But there were so many supporters of the Sirius at the Land and Environment court today the hearing had to be moved to a bigger court.

Foundation chairperson Shaun Carter was overwhelmed by the community support.

He said: “We went to a lot of trouble to assemble the best team possible for the case to go to court, and they all exceptional and presented our argument in a very good way.

“The hearing was a fine display of legal skills from both sides. Whatever the outcome we will feel that our complaint was dealt with thoroughly and we will accept the result as it comes.”

Resident Myra Demetriou, 90, is legally blind but has some of the best views in Sydney.

Mr Carter played host to a community event at the Sirius last Friday night, where 600 people attended ‘Friday night drinks’ around the building’s courtyard.

“The Sirius is a bit like Madonna really. People either love it or they hate it, and either way, as an architect it is so powerful to see everyone moved by a building in some kind of way,” he added.

Each side now has one week to submit supplement documents before the judge is required to make his decision.

According to Ms Johnson, it is estimated the decision will be handed down in the upcoming months, depending on the complexity of the decision.

FACS was unwilling to comment on the matter that was before the court.

“As this matter is currently before the court it would be inappropriate for FACS or the Minister to make any comment,” a spokesperson said.