Carindale green groups petition against TriCare’s bid to build a bowling green along Salvin Creek

IT’S a development which will see the welcome removal of an old eyesore. But a change of plans has environment groups up in arms.

Pictured is B4C president Wayne Cameron and Fiona McAuliffe. Photo: CHRIS MCCORMACK

A BID to build a new lawn bowls facility alongside Salvin Creek has sparked concern among local ecologists.

The plans were lodged as a permissible change to TriCare’s approved application to build a new residential complex at 880 Creek Rd.

TriCare director Peter O’Shea said the facility would replace some dilapidated tennis courts that were part of the old Salvin Park Blue Care Nursing Home.

“(It is) effectively replacing a community space with another community space,” he said.

“The majority of bowls greens are now artificial grass, and its highly likely that the bowls green would be artificial grass.

“A bowls area receiving regular use will increase surveillance in the creek area, which is a good outcome.”

The demolition of a Carina Heights eyesore (the old Salvin Aged Care building) was approved in December but eight months on it still stands attracting squatters and graffiti. Picture: Chris McCormack.

Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee president Wayne Cameron said the bowls facility would affect the “high-priority nature movement corridor” and should be rejected.

“This is a strategic waterway corridor linking Whites Hill Nature Reserve to Bulimba Creek,” he said. “This is a critical point in the corridor ... it has been rehabilitated for over 20 years. It will be quite a comprising of the whole plan if they put a bowling green there.”

More than 200 people have signed a petition calling on council to protect the waterway.