Council pushes ahead with Callan Park recreation plans

Council is intensifying its efforts to force the NSW Government to support the delivery of recreational facilities at Callan Park.

At its meeting last week, the new Council supported a recommendation from Mayor Darcy Byrne to immediately bring forward the $2 million upgrade of Waterfront Drive playing fields and the construction of the $900 000 skate and BMX Park in Callan Park.

“I promised during the recent election to fight hard to cut through red tape and deliver these facilities, now I am determined to get this done for local families,” he said.

“After 18 months of unnecessary delays, we are seeking to have the new lights, playing surface and drainage system for the playing fields delivered straight away, so the new facilities can be available for the 2018 winter season.

“This will benefit the soccer and cricket players who play there now but also other local clubs and sports as it will create new training and game day capacity across our area.

“The Skate and BMX park is also fully funded but has been inexplicably deferred because of ridiculous bureaucratic delays by the responsible Minister Gabrielle Upton and the State Government. There is no excuse for the Government blocking this any longer.”

Council is seeking urgent approval for the Waterfront Drive ground upgrade from the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) who have care and control of the ground.

Council’s Development Application for a Callan Park Regional Skate Park identified a site near the NSW Ambulance base that met with OEH approval after an alternative site was turned down on heritage grounds.

Council also last week affirmed a policy position in support of the establishment of a Callan Park Trust to govern the site and the implementation of the Callan Park Master Plan.

Cr Byrne said this position was the only way to guarantee the future of Callan Park but the Government has so far been unwilling to deliver this.

“Every year the State Government allows this demolition by neglect to continue, the costs of rehabilitating this great community asset increases,” he said.
The Master Plan was first delivered to the State Government in 2011 following 18 months of detailed community consultation by the former Leichhardt Council.

At its meeting last week, Council resolved to write to the Premier and relevant Ministers:
• Seeking a meeting with the Minister for Environment and Heritage to discuss the future of Callan Park; and
• Seeking clarification about when the Minister’s public commitment that the approval of the
Waterfront Drive playing field upgrade and the transfer of control of the grounds to Council will be carried out

Council pushes ahead with Callan Park recreation plans

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