Callan Park would get $10m funding boost under NSW Labor

One of the inner west’s biggest and most cherished parks to get a $10 million funding boost under a NSW Labor Government.

NSW Labor would set up a public trust for Callan Park.

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One of the inner west’s biggest and most cherished parks to get a $10 million funding boost under a NSW Labor Government.

Locals are frustrated with the continued inertia of the State Government, which has been stuck in an endless cycle of planning with very little action for the 61ha park and its 176 under-utilised, dilapidated and heritage buildings.

Many of the buildings at the park are in a terrible state.

NSW Labor has promised to end the Liberals’ “demolition by neglect” by allocating $5 million to establish a public trust for the Lilyfield park, which would operate in a similar way to the ones at Centennial and Parramatta Parks.

An initial funding injection of $5 million would enable the trust to invest in priority initiatives including repairs, restorations, removal of unsafe items and any immediate works to improve safety and amenity for park users.

Formerly a hospital for the insane, many of the buildings are boarded up and dilapidated with many becoming a target for vandals after years of sitting vacant.

Callan Park Film Production Services would be allowed to stay and support would be given to the Balmain Para-Rowing program, including providing the program with facility access.

Friends of Callan Park president Hall Greenland would welcome the establishment of a Trust. Picture: Craig Wilson

Friends of Callan Park president Hall Greenland said the establishment of a trust and $10 million investment would be a “historic win for the community”.

“It’s almost 20 years since the demand was first raised by the Friends and a plan for a Trust prepared by then Leichhardt Councillor Jamie Parker,” Mr Greenland said.

“Callan Park is the only major public park in Sydney not managed by a Trust.”

Labor is now promising to correct that anomaly.”

But he sought assurance Labor would not change an act which prevents the park from being sold off, privatised or being used for profitable commercial activiies.

“Any tampering with it would be dangerous,” he said.

“Now that the Trust appears to be a very real possibility, the Friends will be pushing for .the Trust to include independent local representatives to ensure that the community’s views are always included in all its deliberations.”

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Labor leader Michael Daley said the park was one of Sydney’s “iconic areas” for public open space.

“It is a disgrace that the Liberals have allowed the park to fall into such disrepair,” he said.

“Labor will not and allow the Liberals to privatise Callan Park by stealth, instead Labor in Government will provide the funding needed to restore Callan Park.”

While the Liberals have assured they don’t plan to allow private developers to move in on the park, some community members feel some commercial activity may help inject life back into the area.

Resident John Whitney was not opposed to some commercial uses such as a restaurant, cafes or leasing out the buildings to pay for works and initiatives at the park.

Mr Whitney pointed out that leasing out Kirkbride to the University of Sydney’s Sydney College of the Arts — which will leave the site in 2020 — had helped stop the complex from “falling down”.

Labor’s candidate for Balmain Elly Howse said locals are crying out for “real action on Callan Park, not more talk”

“The community in Balmain has been calling for this kind of meaningful action to restore Callan Park for many years,” she said.

The dilapidated state of some of the buildings at Callan Park.

“Only Labor can deliver the investment that this heritage site needs.”

But Balmain Greens MP Jamie Parker said Labor could not be trusted to protect the park from developers.

“This is a pledge to allow for the tearing up of the Callan Park Act which protects this precious site from commercialisation, overdevelopment and privatisation,” Mr Parker said.

“Our community wants movement on Callan Park but this announcement from Labor is moving in entirely the wrong direction.

“Last time Labor were in government, they tried to build over 1500 apartments at the park.”

The State Government is developing a landscape structure plan for the park.

Inner West Council is working towards making the park swimmable. Picture: Julian Andrews

Inner West Labor mayor Darcy Byrne said the Callan Park could be the “Centennial Park of the inner west”.

“This $10 million investment is the best thing to happen for Callan Park in decades,” he said.

“Eight years ago, the former Leichhardt Council submitted an award-winning masterplan to the State Government detailing how Callan Park could be rehabilitated, and they never even responded in writing,” Cr Byrne said

“Sine then more and more buildings have been allowed to become unattended, vandalised and decrepit.

“Having the next NSW Government partner with us is what’s needed to protect Callan Park and secure its future.

“And Council is committed to a future for Callan Park that protects its open space and heritage, provides space for recreation, and develops health, community and education facilities.

At a meeting organised by Mr Parker in June, staff from the Office of Environment and Heritage proposed removing “intrusive buildings” such as those on the waterfront to create more passive and active recreation space and reducing conflict between cars and Bay Run users.

Other buildings could be used by community, sports and health organisations while an event space and extended bush regeneration areas were also on the cards.