Willoughby Council to fight SBS relocation from north shore to western Sydney

A mayor in Sydney’s west has doubled down on calls for SBS to be shifted from its long term home in Artarmon to the western suburbs as a north shore council vows to fight the federal government over the relocation.

A mayor in Sydney’s west has doubled down on calls for SBS to be shifted from its long term home in Artarmon to the western suburbs as a north shore council vows to fight the federal government over the proposed relocation.

Loss of jobs and impacts on the local economy are among concerns flagged by Willoughby Council in response to a federal government pledge to investigate shifting the multicultural broadcaster out of the region.

The government said a feasibility study would partly examine the “merits of addressing the inequality in infrastructure, skilled jobs and cultural investment in western Sydney by using the national multicultural broadcaster the SBS.”

“Western Sydney is one of Australia’s most diverse and fast-growing areas and SBS is Australia’s most diverse multilingual, multiplatform media organisation,” the government said. 

“The SBS is a vibrant, diverse, efficient and innovative jewel in Australia’s multicultural crown and Labor will examine the feasibility of situating it in the heart of a fast-growing corridor in multicultural Australia.”

SBS has been based in Artarmon for more than 25 years.

Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor said the move would have economic impacts for Artarmon including loss of jobs.

“We love having SBS in Willoughby and to lose it would be quite devastating in terms of the impact on the local economy,” she said.

Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor said SBS was an important local employer.

SBS supports around 900 staff in Artarmon.

“SBS currently supports 900 staff at its headquarters and has been in Willoughby for over 25 years and is well serviced by ancillary services including media, IT, production, and communications which provide employment locally.

“The relocation will have a negative effect on the Artarmon industrial area and the City of Willoughby in general.”

Ms Taylor also challenged the justification behind the proposed move, saying Willoughby was just as culturally diverse as other parts of Sydney – pointing to Census data released last week revealing 49.5 per cent of residents in the local government area were born overseas.

“We’re called the city of diversity for a reason – we have a very multicultural community – and to have the multicultural channel in Willoughby fits with that purpose.”

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour – who has been lobbying for SBS to be moved to a purpose built $120 million media hub in Campsie – said there was “no reason” to keep the broadcaster on the north shore.

“Willoughby Council has had it good since 1992 and let’s not forget SBS was put there because it needed to be located near the other networks such as Channel 9 and ABC and they’ve now moved out of the area,” he said.

“There’s no reason for it to be in Willoughby and if the Willoughby Council thinks they’re diverse and multicultural but they should come over to Campsie to see what multicultural Australia really looks like.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour wants to entice SBS to move to Campsie.

A concept plan of a proposed new SBS site at Campsie being pushed by Canterbury Bankstown Council.

“I’m very happy to invite the mayor and councillors to Campsie to have a look for themselves.

“It’s high time the multicultural broadcaster of Australia had a home in multicultural Australia (and) it will also help Campsie into the future with jobs.”

Parramatta Council is meanwhile hoping to entice the broadcast to move to Sydney’s second CBD.

“Parramatta is a great location – we are accessible, we are the second biggest city in the greater Sydney region we have an incredibly diverse population,” Parramatta Mayor Donna Davis said.

“We’ve got unprecedented public and private investment in Parramatta – this is where the business and government sector is choosing to locate to so SBS would want to be at the heart of where its happening.”

Parramatta Mayor Donna Davis.

Willoughby Council at its last council meeting unanimously supported writing to the federal government and the board of SBS to advocate against the relocation, as well as seeking a meeting to discuss the importance of retaining SBS headquarters at Artarmon.

The council will also ask Communications Minister Michelle Rowland for clarity on the terms of reference and the process for submissions in relation to the feasibility study.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour will table a motion at his next council meeting to lobby the federal government to support relocating the TV station to Campsie.

North Sydney federal MP Kylea Tink has backed calls by Willoughby Council, saying SBS should remain on the north shore.

“It’s not only an important employer locally but it also reflects an important part of the our community and the diversity that makes the north shore a great place to live,” she said.

An SBS spokeswoman declined to comment on the broadcaster’s position on the proposed relocation. In a statement she said: “as the national multicultural and Indigenous broadcaster, SBS is proud to tell stories of diverse communities from across Australia, and of our unique ability to share those perspectives with all Australians.”

The Department of Communications said the Federal Government was committed to commissioning the feasibility study into the relocation broadcaster.

A spokesman said the study would examine the business case, benefits, and risks of relocating as well and would include a competitive bidding process between local government areas to choose a relocation site.

“More information about the timing of the feasibility study will be provided to relevant stakeholders in due course. Stakeholders and communities will be closely consulted to understand the potential impacts of any move,” he said.