AIRDS LAND GRAB ANGERS MAYOR A PLAN to revitalise Airds will come at the cost of much of the suburbs green space — and Campbelltown mayor Sue Dobson says its a land swap that rips off local ratepayers. Its a rort, Cr Dobson said. Never in my wildest dreams did I think theyd come in and take our parks and sports fields. Under the current concept plan for the Airds-Bradbury Renewal Project, large parcels of public land — including Kevin Wheatley Reserve, Brindley Park, Dorchester Park and Baden Powell Reserve — would be swallowed up by rooftops. In return, UrbanGrowth NSW, formerly known as Landcom, would shift Kevin Wheatley Reserves sports fields to a smaller, swampy piece of land behind the current Riverside Drive shopping centre. That piece of land contains protected Cumberland Plain woodland and is a critical koala corridor which connects Smiths Creek Reserve to the Georges River. A proposed extension of Campbellfield Avenue, which would require several houses to be demolished, would also slice through the reserve. Ive always thought they would develop their own land and leave our reserves alone, Cr Dobson said. But this is a grab for cash. Theyre using our parks, sports fields and recreational facilities to profit. Where else would this happen in Sydney? Now Cr Dobson has called on Premier Barry OFarrell to intervene. The land belongs to the ratepayers of Campbelltown, she said. No one asked the ratepayers of Campbelltown if they were willing to give it up. Housing NSW finalised the current concept plan for the public housing estate (which Campbelltown Council assessed) and Planning Minister Brad Hazzard approved it in August 2012. Cr Dobson argued they didnt know what they were signing off on. A concept plan can change from one day, one week, one month to the next, Cr Dobson said. No-one thought when it went on public exhibition we would lose land that belongs to the ratepayers. Her anger over the land grab did not mean Cr Dobson was opposed to renewal. I do approve of the Airds redevelopment but . . . the design for the new sports fields is inappropriate for the area. Wayne Smithers has been involved with local sporting groups for almost two decades and said: The thing that worries me is the loss of grounds with no compensation to sports players. Local koala expert Dr Robert Close said koalas were known to frequent the area set aside for the new sports fields and the proposed development would make them more vulnerable. Certainly theres a need to maintain a link between the upper part of Smiths Creek and the Georges River, and at the moment animals are coming through there so if there were plantings through that area it would help them. An UrbanGrowthNSW spokesman said extensive community consultation had identified a need to create a town centre that integrated community facilities and active open space areas. The spokesman said the relocation of Kevin Wheatley Reserve would support the new town centre and the distribution of open space and improve public access. Studies had included proposals to preserve and enhance the existing Cumberland Plain woodland and koala habitat. Campbelltown MP Bryan Doyle said he was aware of Cr Dobsons concerns, but thought some of the grievances could be resolved at a local level before the matter went to the Premier. As it stands, I know the council signed off on it in 2011 and the minister signed off on it in 2012 — but I think theres still some scope for incorporating some of these concerns. Im sure well come up with the best outcome. Would you like to see the green space in Airds preserved in the renewal?
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:05:05 +0000
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