Groundhog Day for Sydney Creative Play as move to make way for Transport for NSW in Canterbury

TWO weeks on from moving into new premises after being booted out of another, a non-profit children’s playgroup has been told their new digs have been slated for a for Sydney Metro storage site.

Sydney Creative Play parents Sharon Baldwin, Julia Sykes and Anna Edwards with Luella, 4, Milly, 3, Inika, 18 months and Max, 7, at the Canterbury Bowling Club site where they lease. Picture: Tim Clapin.

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NEWS last week that the former Canterbury Bowling and Community Club will be taken over by Transport for NSW felt like Groundhog Day for Sydney Creative Play.

The non-profit children’s playgroup had only been subleasing the bowling club site at 15 Close St for two weeks, when they discovered the site was slated to be used as a storage site for Sydney Metro.

In January, the group was booted from across the road in 11 Close St to make way for a 439-unit development.

Founder of Sydney Creative Play and Canterbury resident Sharon Baldwin was deflated when asking council last week: “Where are community groups in this city meant to go?”

“I fear another eviction will be the nail in the coffin for us and other non-profit groups,” Ms Baldwin said.

Sharon Baldwin pictured with her daughter Luella 4, inside the warehouse at 11 Close St. Picture: Justin Sanson

Transport for NSW has requested to acquire the site under a five-year lease from council to support work on the Metro upgrade of Canterbury Station.

It will be used for site deliveries, storage and water drainage.

At a meeting last week, Canterbury-Bankstown Council moved to work with Transport for NSW in the acquisition period.

Council administrator Richard Colley said this outcome would give the council “the best opportunity” to make its concerns known.

“Hanging over our heads is a compulsory acquisition ... this is the best way of moving forward,” Mr Colley said.

Transport for NSW rejected that it was a compulsory acquisition saying: “(We are) not acquiring 15 Close St, Canterbury.”

“We are working with Canterbury-Bankstown Council to lease this land.”

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Questions were raised at the council meeting about Close St traffic congestion.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said: “Vehicle access to and from construction sites will be managed to ensure pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist safety.”

Once the five year lease has ended, the land is expected to be returned to council.