FREE
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
October 24, 2014
Issue 56
Community objects to Mascord Park rezoning abor candidate for Wyong Mr David Harris joined Cr Lisa Matthews and Cr Ken Greenwald at a meeting of local residents in Mascord Park on Saturday, October 11, to hear concerns about the proposed rezoning of 8000m2 in the Park from RE1 – Public Recreation to R1 – General Residential which would allow building to take place as part of Wyong Shire Council’s Affordable Housing Policy.
L
Between 80 and 100 people attended the meeting and agreed through a show of hands to start a campaign to protect their local park from development. “Mums and dads voiced concerns as this park provided an important recreational area for their families,” said Mr Harris. “Both the young and the elderly, everyday people from right around the community, want to fight any attempt to rezone Mascord Park. “I was very surprised by the number of people who attended. “We expected only
about 20 or 30 people given there was short notice about the meeting. “To get almost 100 people shows the concern there is for this proposal. “Concerns were raised about the potential loss of parking for sporting events in the area as traffic already overflows into surrounding residential streets as well as for the loss of open space which is well used by local people. “Residents complained that the area including Mascord Park had been master planned and any changes would be
We
robbing locals of land which was set aside for not just recreation but an important wildlife corridor. “People made it clear that they valued the park and did not want any housing development to occur there – in fact many people said they had moved to the area because of the park and facilities. “A letter calling on the Minister for the Central Coast, Rob Stokes, who is also the Minister for the Environment and Assistant Minister for Planning, to intervene
and prevent this attack on this local park from happening, was signed by those in attendance. “A petition is also being circulated in the area and has more than 300 signatures after only one week,” Mr Harris said The proposal to amend the Wyong Local Environmental Plan 2013 passed at the September 10 council meeting, with only Cr Lisa Matthews and Cr Ken Greenwald voting against the proposal, which was passed seven votes to two.
“It was good to see that our stance in council was well supported by those in attendance today,” said Cr Greenwald. “The Labor councillors support affordable housing, but feel that sites other than our local parks and passive recreational areas should be used.” Wyong mayor Cr Doug Eaton addressed the meeting to give council’s perspective on the proposed amendment to the Wyong LEP 2013. Cr Matthews said mayor Cr Eaton attended the meeting to give council’s argument for
the move, but those in attendance made it clear to him that they would not wear such a proposal for very good reasons. “If anything, they were more determined after hearing his defence of the move,” she said. Mr Harris said: “This campaign has just started and locals vowed to set up a Facebook page and to talk to their neighbours to make sure they understood what was at stake if this proposal was allowed to move ahead.” “Let’s make this absolutely clear - this is not a campaign against affordable housing, this is a campaign to protect our valuable passive recreational spaces in communities which basically have no backyards and rely on parks like Mascord Park for their open space to walk dogs, ride bikes, run, walk and play. “Make no mistake, if these ‘trial’ sites are approved, then none of our parks are safe from development, this is an issue for all communities across Wyong Shire.” Mr Harris said. Media release, 12 Oct 2014 David Harris, Labor candidate for Wyong
the Wyong Shire