Gannan Park draft masterplan includes fitness centre and LED lights; excludes parking

An upgraded north Sydney park might have all the bells and whistles in the plan, but residents living close by say they are not being considered.

Gannan Park upgrades have angered Ryde residents

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Residents fear light spillage, extra noise and increased parking will severely disrupt their day-to-day lives under a Ryde Council plan to upgrade Gannan Park.

The Council has released its draft masterplan for Gannan and McCauley parks, proposing new sporting facilities, fitness equipment, an expanded playground, pathways and native trees.

Under the plan, there will be major lighting upgrades at Gannan Park as council tries to address the expected shortfall of sportsgrounds by 2036, when the Ryde population is expected to increase by 43 per cent to 171,650.

However, the move has infuriated residents including Col Parkin, whose two-storey Berripa Close house backs on to Gannan Park.

The Gannan and McCauley Park Masterplan.

“The big LED lights will be just 8m from my back fence and they will come straight into the top floor where the bedrooms are,” he said.

“Because of the park’s amphitheatre, the extra noise is going to a problem, even after the lights go off at 9.30pm, the (soccer) players and supporters are going to hang around for a drink after games. While most of us understand the need for more sporting fields, this plan is absurd and unfair.”

Resident Sharon Levingston said: “Parking for residents in the adjoining cul-de-sacs is not being considered by council at all.

residents are concerned the flood lighting will disturb there homes. Picture: Alan Place.

“While there is a carpark in Buna St, to put two full-sized football fields on the space, with 120-plus cars requiring parking in the local cul-de-sacs, is a traffic jam waiting to happen.”

A council spokesman said the modern lighting technology would minimise light spillage into the nearby homes.

He also said the council would commission independent traffic and “acoustic” reports to help identify any potential parking and noise impacts on residents.