Hornsby Council pass motion for Westleigh Park amid community backlash

A decision on a controversial plan for an upper north shore parkland has been decided – with the local mayor threatening to shut down the meeting as residents clashed in the gallery.

Hornsby Shire council have passed a motion for the Westleigh Park development to progress.

A contentious vision to turn bushland into a recreational development sparked awar of words, with community groups clashing over the fate of a controversial parkland plan.

After more than two hours of debate during the meeting this month, Hornsby Council voted to approve the plans, which would turn 36ha of cleared open space and bushland previously owned by Sydney Water into a major parkland.

The decision comes after the Hornsby Advocate revealed close to $36 million in state government grant funding had not been spent, despite council applying for multiple extensions on deadlines to spend the funds.

It will include “spaces for play and sporting activities, and a choice of ‘unstructured recreation experiences’ including mountain biking, walking and cycling, while conserving important bushland areas” the council said in a statement.

The meeting was filled with tension the moment it began, with an Indigenous welcome speaker saying: “You‘ll have my welcome if you look after our land, that we all share and need to care for”.

One speaker said the topic had “divided” the Hornsby community – with mountain bikers in favour of cutting through the “bushland shire”, while another resident pointed to the benefits mountain biking provided to the community.

An artist impression of the Westleigh Park development.

Protecting Your Suburban Environmentspokeswoman Jan Primrose said Westleigh Park posed major ecological issues and the site was laced with contamination.

Mrs Primrose said local Aboriginal people opposed the relocation of a “scarred tree” – which has now been poisoned by users at the site.

At one point, Mayor Philip Ruddock threatened to close the meeting, due to outbursts and cheers from the public gallery.

“If it continues in this way I will close this meeting – this is a meeting that must be conducted in an orderly way,” Cr Ruddock said.

In support of the development, Sydney North Off Road Club president Dan Smith said mountain biking was “taking over mainstream sports”.

Mr Smith said the sport is growing in the region and posed a significant financial and mental wellbeing benefit for the community.

Endangered Turpentine Ironbark forest at Westleigh Park.

“No one understands it and therefore it doesn’t get consideration,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said there was a misconception that mountain bikers want to “tear through bush” – arguing riders respect the land.

Galston resident Kartina Emmett claimed the council was “unsympathetic” to the fact the site was surrounded by bush.

“Sporting grounds are mobile, unlike endangered forests,” she said.

The community are concerned mountain bike trails will damage the environment.

“This overdevelopment goes against issues of residents and national environmental legislation,” Ms Emmett said.

Green MP and spokesman for Planning Sue Higginson said the development was “riddled with issues”.

“Council should cut their losses now before this project consumes more time and money for no benefit,” Ms Higginson said.

She said the site is significantly contaminated and contains rare and endangered woodlands, while describing the former government’s grant process was “scandalous” – opposed council seeking yet another grant extension.

A protest at Westleigh Park in June last year.

Artist impressions of the proposed Westleigh Park bike trails.

Ms Higginson believed council should use the money on a “comprehensive rehabilitation plan for local facilities that will not destroy the local environment.”

The $40m ‘Stronger Communities’ grant was handed to the council almost seven years ago and was extended by council multiple times.

A spokesman for the Office of Local Government said they are continuing to receive progress reports from council on its acquittal of the grant funding.

Westleigh Park artist impressions.

“These reports will be reviewed by the OLG, along with reports from other councils with ongoing projects being delivered through the fund,” a spokesman said.

Hornsby Conservation Society spokesman David Martin has bird watched for over 30 years, mapping and monitoring birds.

“These timid and sensitive birds will be driven away if trail bike tracks are built,” Mr Martin said.

While Liberal councillor Nathan Tilbury defended the report, saying it was comprehensive and answered all ecological concerns.

Artist impressions for a new sporting ground at Westleigh Park.

Cr Tilbury said the council had to start the project to start “delivering for the community”.

Liberal councillor Warren Waddell echoed the sentiment and said every question and perspective had been thought through.

A council spokesman said Aboriginal communities had been provided a range of feedback and allowed input.

Labor Councillor Janelle McIntosh said she was eager for the project to commence, noting final say will be from the Planning Panel.

“We’ve been sued previously for not using money,” Ms McIntosh said.

Greens Councillor Emma Heyde simplified the debate – asking if council prioritised the critically endangered forest over mountain biking.

“Is this the only place we can enjoy a ride? We have to actually want to protect critically endangered fauna – it can’t shift unlike bike tracks,” she said.

The motion was passed seven votes to three.