Telopea skate park prompts requests for more parks
A revamped skate park is a welcome addition to a northwest Sydney suburb but calls have been made for more green spaces in a community soon to be hit with a slew of units.
Parramatta
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A revamped skate park is a welcome addition to Sturt Park in Telopea but calls have been made for more green spaces in the community soon to be hit with a slew of units.
Sturt and Acacia parks at Telopea are being upgraded as part of a $5 million grant the State Government has allocated to Parramatta Council.
The upgrades are expected to be completed mid to late 2021 and include better lighting, improved playground equipment, barbecues, exercise equipment, new seating and sheltered picnic areas.
Telopea’s transformation includes 4500 homes, including 1000 public housing dwellings on the government’s former 13ha Telopea estate.
Parramatta councillor Donna Davis welcomed the parks’ revamp but said more recreation spaces were needed to cater for the population surge and high-density developments planned when the Parramatta Light Rail starts serving suburbs including Telopea, Dundas and Carlingford.
She said under the Telopea masterplan, the State Government justified Homelands Reserve at Telopea and Dundas Park at Dundas Valley as recreation spaces that would cater for more residents.
“That’s well and good but where are the extra netball courts, where’s the hockey fields to cater for all these people coming in?,’’ Cr Davis said.
“Where’s the indoor court facilities?’’
A Planning Department spokeswoman said the Telopea masterplan, which was finalised in late 2018, considered the area’s current and future capacity and a new 0.65 hectare park and plaza next to the light rail stop were included in the rezoning.
“Improvements will also be made to pedestrian and cycling connections to key open space areas, including along the rail corridor’s north-south green line,’’ the spokeswoman said.
“As sites develop, additional plaza and pocket park areas will be delivered through local contributions and works in kind, and would be planned through council.’’
The council is reviewing public feedback into Acacia and Sturt parks’ upgrade and will consult the community more this year.
Construction is due to start early 2021 before wrapping up mid to late 2021.