Bernie the goose keeps his dam after Bernie Mullane Sports Complex masterplans change

IT was a David and Goliath battle — A lone goose called Bernie and a council plan to fill in his pond to make way for a carpark as part of a $10m sporting complex in Sydney’s hills district.

Plans for an extra carpark at Bernie Mullane Sports Complex have been reconfigured to keep the dam and Bernie the goose where they belong. Picture: Carmela Roche

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IT WAS a David and Goliath battle when plans for Bernie Mullane Sports Complex were unveiled and local celebrity Bernie the goose was at risk of losing his home.

Feathers were ruffled over the $10 million masterplans as the dam, Bernie’s stomping ground, was slated to become a carpark.

Bernie the goose is known for being as tough and strong-willed as his namesake, the late former Hills mayor Bernie Mullane, and he couldn’t help but turn on the charm when the Hills Shire Times stopped by the Marella Ave dam.

Bernie the goose showing the pigeons who is the boss of the Kellyville dam. Picture: Carmela Roche

Not afraid to show the ducks and pigeons who’s boss, Bernie is also regularly fed by locals taking a walk.

It was these Kellyville locals, including Anthony Milostic, who pushed The Hills Shire Council into finding another location for the carpark. A total of 23 formal submissions were received objecting to removing the dam and leaving Bernie homeless.

Councillor Michelle Byrne said it was a successful consultation with residents, sporting bodies and the community to deliver a great outcome.

“This is an excellent example of what can be achieved and creating a better outcome by listening to the community,” she said.

“Anyone who has been down there (to the dam) knows Bernie and if you haven’t met him, you need to. The open space is just as important as the sporting fields.

The scenic dam will undergo an alteration to improve its accessibility. Picture: Carmela Roche

“It reminds me of the song lyric, ‘they paved paradise and put up a parking lot’.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure this does not happen ... and we are not going to put in a carpark there.”

Cr Byrne said Bernie the goose and his dam were “an important” part of Bernie Mullane and that another location would be developed to deliver a carpark for the site.

In the council’s report, it noted the dam will be reconstructed for $1.8 million.

“(The alteration) will aim to provide opportunities for improved viewing and accessibility as well as enhancing the surrounds with picnic and open space facilities,” the report said.

The $10 million masterplans will prioritise surfacing the fields with synthetic turf.

The masterplan was approved at the September 27 council meeting.

Stage one of the upgrade is expected to cost $7.5 million with the main priority to be laying synthetic sports fields.

Other changes coming to the Marella Ave sporting complex include a new playground, a water playground, $100,000 worth of upgraded pathway lighting, extending the recreation centre and an off-leash area for dogs.