Press Release 26 January 2006 Save Open Space Campaign

Campbelltown City Council at its meeting on 24 January 2006 voted to support the following staff initiated recommendation – that”Council may at its discretion, consider to make the whole or any part of the land the subject of this management plan, available for Business purposes, during the life of this management plan.” In addition the plan would no longer be reviewed annually but on an “as required” basis – without any indication as to what the requirement is.

 

Staff were unable to explain why the change to allow all community land available for business purposes was necessary. Cr Judy Black stated that the move will impact on the community’s trust in the Council and that it was a green light for privatisation. Cr Margaret Sewell said it was against everything an Open Space Strategy stood for. The CEO, Peter Vlatko, when challenged that it was not part of the Strategic Plan, said it wasn’t ruled out in the Strategic Plan either.

 

At the same meeting a decision was taken to sell the majority of Oakdale Ave Reserve, the largest park in the Newton suburb. In 2000 the Council’s Character Analysis found that Newton had less Open Space than any other suburb in the city. The suburb is highly industrialised with a high proportion of families with children and this park is the only large area open to all residents.

 

The decision arose from a report to Council arising from a petition from residents to replace the flaking asbestos boundary fence shared with residents.  Cr Max Amber proposed the sale without notice although the report recommended a sharing of costs on terms to suit the residents. The proposal to sell the park for a large subdivision as proposed by Cr Amber was a complete surprise to residents who protested loudly at the decision.

 

Cr Amber did not seek a report into the matter to assess the views of those affected. He suggested the sale of the park will help pay off debts. Council has recently approved a $14 million Civic Centre which has been dubbed a white Elephant by its opponents. In September 2004 Cr Amber successfully moved that a large section of the Campbelltown Community Oval environs be privatised.

 

Residents have started a SOS campaign to Save Open Space in Campbelltown which is under threat of privatisation. Residents will be seeking guarantees from both Labor and Liberal candidates for the seat of Morialta at the next State Election to protect the park under the Local Government Act provisions and to pledge funding to upgrade the park for the benefit of all. Their children and future generations need open space for their physical and mental health, to fight obesity and to have fun in an area increasingly crowded with housing.