Following a significant meeting at Sydney Town Hall on Monday night (11.10.10) – Oxford Art Factory boss Mark Gerber is confident that sanity will prevail and that an amended daytime use of the OAF can be negotiated with the City of Sydney Council.
At first looking as if the venue would need a completely new and costly DA application for its daytimetrade amendment, the meeting highlighted a breakdown in communication between the town planning officers and the OAF’s application planners. Mark Gerber, with friends and staff of the venue in the wings as witnesses, gave a passionate speech that emphasised the OAF’s commitment to live music and the arts. Councillor Doutney was quick to add her support, questioning why the council was stuck on technicalities when it should be supporting every endeavour of the Oxford Art Factory.
The sticking point was that council’s report incorrectly read the application as being substantially different to the original DA consent. Despite the confusion, Oxford Art Factory will always be an art-based venue.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore concluded the hearing by stating that the council does support live music and the OAF. Oxford Art Factory has been asked to come up with a new amended Section 96 condition to satisfy the council. Mark Gerber is now in the process of drafting this condition with the OAF’s legal team.
A further update will be made available as soon as more progress is made.
Mark Gerber and the Oxford Art Factory would like to personally thank everyone for their ongoing support in the lead up to the hearing.