Claims the Clarence City Council had vowed to keep one if its parklands, proposed as a site for a High Performance Centre, ‘out of the AFL’s hands’ have been shot down by the local mayor.
Mayor Brendan Blomeley on Thursday dismissed reports suggesting the council was trying to block the project, which has been met with some controversy from the community.
“To be clear, council has not made a “vow to save” Charles Hand Park and will continue to work with the developer and owner of the centre, the state government, to develop a precinct plan for the area,” he said.
“Before any decision is made on the position of the High Performance Centre, council will conduct further community consultation in respect to the concept plans as well as through the planning process.”
At Monday’s council meeting, a motion from Councillor Tony Mulder was endorsed seven to five to explore the option of incorporating the entire AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre into Rosny Parkland.
This would mean the facility would only occupy space at the former Rosny Golf Course, not Charles Hand Park and would be a third option included in the council’s proposal to the state government.
“It’s not surprising the community is alarmed at the loss of parkland and so it should be,” Mulder said.
“The fact there was no information about which parts of the parkland … were going to be used for what, where buildings and ovals and other facilities were to be sited, has led to the situation where the community has assumed we’re going to bulldoze the lot of it.”
The council will host a public meeting to discuss the project on Wednesday, May 15, at the Citywide Baptist Church from 7pm and are inviting those for and against the project to attend.
