Macquarie Ice Rink lifeline: AMP puts demolition plans on hold
AMP Capital has put plans on ice to demolish a much-loved Sydney rink after a massive community outcry against the $195 million Macquarie Centre upgrade.
People power has forced AMP Capital back to the drawing board over its plans to demolish the iconic Macquarie Ice Rink.
Just two days after the Northern District Times exclusively revealed the Macquarie Centre owners planned to tear down Australia’s premier Olympic-sized ice rink, AMP Capital backflipped late today as it promised to have “further community consultation” over its $195 million shopping centre upgrade.
“Our community, customers and retailers are important to us and we have listened to them. We acknowledge the outpouring of support for the ice rink and the special place it has for many,” AMP Capital Shopping Centres managing director Mark Kirkland said.
The Times’ story went viral on social media, with thousands of people angry at the loss of a much-loved community asset next year.
Even Premier Gladys Berejiklian weighed into the rallying calls behind the ice rink, recalling her memories of growing up in the area.
“The Macquarie Ice Rink was always a school holiday treat and we even convinced our teachers at North Ryde High to do a term of school sport there,” she said.
At least five petitions are already circulating to save the ice rink, with thousands of signatures flooding the pages created by Ryde Liberal MP Victor Dominello and Ryde Labor Mayor Jerome Laxale.
Dr Frank Gregg, who has run the ice rink for four decades, thanked the community for sending such a “powerful message” to AMP.
However, he said it was “only a first step” in getting AMP Capital to scrap its plans to bulldoze the rink, which Dr Gregg spent $3.5 million on an ice-lift last year.
“I’m delighted for the community, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said.
“We really appreciate you exposing the secret plans of AMP, and it’s important that the community keeps up the pressure on them.
“There has been a lot of noise for a number of years around what AMP may or may not do with Macquarie Ice Rink. There is no way I would have spent $3.5 million upgrading the rink if I expected it to close on January 31, 2020.”
Many flocked to the ice rink today to beat the heat, with Dr Gregg saying there were about 650 in attendance this morning.
‘HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY’
A political blame game for allowing developer AMP Capital the opportunity to build four 27-storey towers has erupted ahead of the NSW election.
Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale, who will challenge sitting Ryde MP Victor Dominello at the March poll, says the State Government’s rezoning, through its Herring Road priority precinct, had led to a “developers’ Disneyland” at Macquarie Park, where building heights were increased from 33.5m to 120m in 2014.
“This icerink situation is a flashpoint and a direct line with what the State Government has allowed at Macquarie Park,” Cr Laxale said.
“AMP is a developer. If they can build 27-storey buildings then of course they are going to knock the ice rink down. I find it laughable that Victor Dominello is now out there trying to save something that he has enabled. It’s disingenuous of him and, frankly, desperate.”
The Mayor also attacked Mr Dominello for failing to put in a submission opposing AMP’s redevelopment plans for Macquarie Centre during a community consultation process in 2016.
Mr Dominello declined to respond directly to Cr Laxale’s criticism. Instead, he issued a short statement: “The community is sick of politics; they want solutions.
“I will work with AMP and council to save the ice rink.”
A month before a State Government planning panel signed off AMP’s plans in November 2016, it was allowed through the gateway process by Ryde Council.
Cr Laxale was in support of entering into a Voluntary Planning Agreement with AMP at the time.
“The rezoning had already been done and we had to work with what we got,” he said.
ICONIC ICE RINK TO BE DEMOLISHED
DEVELOPMENT DESTROYING TREES IN NORTHWEST
CENTRE’S ‘MOST ENVIED’ QUEST IN $195 MAKEOVER
“We had to work with AMP on a VPA. But nowhere in those plans back then did it say anything about knocking down the icerink centre.
“They didn’t ask for any extra heights and, as stated in their report, they wanted to enter this agreement as a ‘good corporate citizen’.
“If council didn’t enter this VPA it would have a gross miscarriage of our responsibility. The rezoning had already been done by the State Government.”
First-term Ryde Liberal councillor Jordan Lane, who recalls having a first date at the Macquarie Ice Rink which “didn’t go that well”, said council should have questioned AMP’s plans further in 2016.
“It’s extraordinary entering a deal for the community and not getting assurances like keeping one of the biggest and best ice rinks in the southern hemisphere in place,” Cr Lane said.
“I wasn’t on council at the time, but for me, the preservation of the ice rink should have been a no-brainer back then.”
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