Push to rename Eastlakes Reserve after activist Jack Mundey
A popular park in southeast Sydney could soon be renamed after legendary activist Jack Mundey, who played a major role in fending off developers to preserve the beloved green space.
Southern Courier
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A popular park in Eastlakes could soon be renamed after legendary activist Jack Mundey, who played a major role in fending off developers to preserve the beloved green space.
Bayside Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss renaming Eastlakes Reserve after Mr Mundey.
Mr Mundey died this month, aged 90, and was a well-known activist and unionist who crusaded for “green bans” in Sydney, which saw a number of historic buildings and areas protected from demolition by strike action.
One of his little known victories was helping save what is now Eastlakes Reserve.
Heffron state Labor MP Ron Hoenig explained Mr Mundey was central in keeping the green space in the community.
“In the 1970s, Rosebery Racecourse was to be redeveloped into a garden suburb,” Mr Hoenig said.
He said instead of houses, three-storey developments were going up at a rapid rate “like weeds” and community members began to protest.
“Residents approached Jack Mundey for support and in November 1971 the Builders’ Labourers Federation placed a green ban on the site,” Mr Hoenig said.
Mr Mundey was the secretary of the federation at the time, and their work led to an agreement being reached with the council and the developer to ensure the land would be kept free from further development.
Eastlakes Reserve is now a much loved park next to Eastlakes Shopping Centre.
Following Mr Mundey’s death, Mr Hoenig and members of the community have contacted Bayside Council asking the council to consider changing the name of the park. Bayside Council will meet on Wednesday and discuss the proposal, including applying for a grant to change the signage at the reserve.
Mr Hoenig said protesting major developments during the 1970s was a brave endeavour in Sydney.
“Eastlakes would not be Eastlakes without Eastlakes Reserve. The Eastlakes community will forever be in debt to the courage and determination of Jack Mundey,” he said.
“Protesting against overdevelopment was a pretty courageous thing to do in those days.
“Around that time, Juanita Nielsen had disappeared and it was said by some that she had been murdered by property developers or their associates.”