Residents in show of strength over Astrolabe Park
HANDS off our park. That was the unanimous message as dozens of residents turned up to a community forum on the future of Daceyville’s Astrolabe Park on Saturday morning.
Southern Courier
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“HANDS off our park”.
That was the unanimous message as dozens of residents turned up to a community forum on the future of Daceyville’s Astrolabe Park on Saturday morning.
Bayside Council organised the event after receiving two proposals for the former rubbish tip. One is for an entertainment and sporting precinct which includes accommodation and a 6500-seat stadium. The second is from Cricket NSW, the AFL and UNSW for two ovals and assorted buildings.
Bayside general manager Meredith Wallace addressed the 50-plus residents and said the council had dismissed the first proposal, describing it as “unbelievably terrible”. But she said the council wanted to gauge local feeling on the second plan.
She explained the park was owned by Sydney Water and the council was responsible for maintenance.
The licence agreement between Sydney Water and the council enables it to be used for recreational purposes in return for Bayside maintaining the land.
However, ultimately Sydney Water retains the rights over the park and can with it as it pleases.
Ms Wallace said that as a result the council has little power over decision making. She said proponents would work with owners Sydney Water and the any decision would ultimately be made by the NSW Government.
Residents expressed their anger at the plan with Camille Gray among those to speak. “There are enough places for organised sports. This is a place for kids to chuck a ball, fly a kite and for families to have a picnic. It is upsetting that Sydney is becoming so overcrowded and every little bit of land is being developed.”
“We are worried our voices won’t be heard,” resident Mairaed Bilmon said. “We hope the council comes down on our side, they have certainly heard the community loud and clear.”
“Council is increasingly powerless,” she added. “This is a change we have seen over the last 20 years: the gradual stripping away of power from councils and communities.”
The proposal would see an AFL field and a cricket oval along with indoor training facilities, a rehab centre and a cafe.
There would also be a cricket pavilion, AFL pavilion, a walking/cycling track, eight outdoor cricket nets and a fence around the ovals.
Other residents raised concerns over parking and contamination from the former tip.
Many also made the point open space would become even more important in the coming years with nearby developments such as Pagewood Green set for completion.
Councillors Christine Curry, Scott Morrissey, James MacDonald and Dorothy Rapisardi attended, as did Kingsford Smith federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite and Maroubra state MP Michael Daley.
“The community feels a bit ambushed here because this proposal came entirely out of the blue,” Mr Daley said. “This is precious green space that needs to be preserved so we need to tread very carefully here.”
Mr Thistlethwaite MP express his concerns for council’s lack of power over decision making.
“NSW Liberals have changed the planning laws so none of these application come to local councils anymore,” he said. “They go straight to the minister for planning. The NSW Liberals have ridden roughshod over the local community. We’ve had enough of it, you should have a say in this.
"The residents of Daceyville shouldn’t have to pay the price for Gladys Berejiklian’s failed stadiums plan. The Liberals simply can’t be trusted with protecting our community’s green spaces from overdevelopment.”
Resident Robyn Gilbert said locals were confused about who to object to.
“We were told about this because they have approached Bayside Council and then we come along today and discover Bayside has no say.
“It seems contradictory and is confusing to citizens. But we have to redirect our energies and go and speak to the NSW Government and maybe stop spending so much time on Bayside council.”
Many directed their anger at Ms Wallace and the council. She assured them Bayside had no agenda and would advocate on their behalf.
“They (the proponent) have every right under the licence agreement to go straight to Sydney Water and exclude council from the conversation,” Ms Wallace warned. “That would not be a great outcome.
“It is better to have this sort of discussion with the community than have Sydney Water speaking directly to the proponent.”
Writing in this week’s Southern Courier, Bayside Mayor Bill Saravinovski said the views expressed at Saturday’s meeting will be taken into account when the council decides whether to support the proposal or not.
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