Paddington Bowling Club, Trumper Park: NSW Aboriginal Land Council maintaining its claim on site

With the future of the Paddington Bowling Club site still up in the air, locals desperate for fresh air want to bring down the fences and stretch their legs on the site during lockdown.

UPDATE

Paddington politicians have implored the Minister for Public Spaces to allow residents access to the old bowling club grounds for much needed recreation during lockdown.

Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and Woollahra councillor Harriet Price have been lobbying Minister Rob Stokes about the disused site for years.

The pair say the issue has now come to a head with the crushing weight of the indefinite lockdowns leaving locals desperate for places to stretch their legs.

“There is high demand in Paddington and the inner city for access to green open space and recreation facilities, and the government’s Public Open Space Strategy identifies gaining more open space as a priority,” the pair wrote to Minister Stokes this week.

“The current pandemic has increased this demand. Parklands and open spaces are providing respite and escape during these increasingly challenging times. Safe areas for exercise and outdoor recreation is at a premium.

“It is very disappointing that this unique public land remains locked up, inaccessible and not being used for its dedicated purpose.

“It is very concerning that these outstanding Aboriginal land claims remain unresolved after such a long period of time and we ask for your urgent action to resolve the future of the site, including possible temporary access during pandemic restrictions.

“Could you please urgently resolve the future of the Paddington Bowling Club site and inform us what action you will take?”

Minister Stokes is yet to respond to Mr Greenwich and Cr Price’s request.

EARLIER

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council is pursuing a series of claims on a prized slice of green space in Paddington.

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council lodged claims on the Paddington Bowling Club site at Trumper Park in 2009 and 2010, which was joined by a claim lodged by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council in 2016.

Under legislation, Aboriginal communities can make a claim or claims for crown land to compensate for the historic dispossession of land and to support their economic and cultural development.

The claims for the Paddington site are among 37,000 which remain unresolved by the government and the Land Council has renewed the call for answers.

The Aboriginal Land Council confirmed to the Wentworth Courier they wanted the claims answered by Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes as soon as possible.

Under the Act, NSWALC and Local Aboriginal Land Councils are able to claim unused Crown Land to pursue economic independence for Aboriginal people in NSW.

Where land claims are granted, Local Aboriginal Land Councils are able to convert the sites, to not only benefit Aboriginal people but also the broader community.

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council celebrating the Koojay Corroboree on Coogee Beach. Picture: Craig Wilson

Woollahra Council has lobbied the Minister in recent years to allow the council to take over the lease to ensure the land was used for its intended purpose of public recreation.

Residents First Cr Harriet Price threw her support behind the Aboriginal Land Council claims and highlighted their track record of activating spaces which honoured the area’s Indigenous history and provided a place to be enjoyed by the whole community.

“These claims were made some 10 years ago and have remained outstanding whilst long term leases were approved for transfer by the relevant Ministers,” Cr Price said.

“The fact that the land is significant to Indigenous members of our community only serves to further reinforce why it can’t continue to be locked away for private purposes.

“Given the history of inactivity and mismanagement of the site, I look forward to Minister Stokes considering the claims without further delay.”

The Paddington Bowling Club site at Trumper Park is Crown Land and its lease is held by Quarry Street.

Meanwhile aside from the tennis courts, the site sits idle despite the term of its lease stating it must be used for public recreation.

Woollahra Councillor Harriet Price and Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich at the fenced off site. Picture: Danny Aarons

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said it was time the Minister took action to ensure the land was used for the purpose as a community asset.

“The Paddington Bowling Club should not be treated like a tradeable commodity,” Mr Greenwich said.

“This government committed to increasing open space, yet in one of the most densely populated areas has allowed a potential park to remain fenced off.

“This had gone on far too long, and government intervention to return this land to community benefit is long overdue.”

A spokeswoman for Minister Stokes acknowledged the existence of the Land Claims.

“There are Aboriginal land claims for this site that have been initiated by La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council,” the spokeswoman said.

“ These claims are currently being considered.”