Park plans withdrawn… For now
August 24, 2006
Section: News
By Mick Roberts
THE discovery of a public trust covenant has forced Wollongong City Council to withdraw controversial plans to reclassify part of Thirroul's Thomas Gibson Park.
Council has cancelled the exhibition of a draft Local Environment Plan (LEP) to allow the reclassification and a public hearing scheduled for tonight after the discovery of the public trust.
The reclassification would allow Wrexham Road at Thirroul to be extended through the south west section of the park to serve the Stockland residential development site.
A Council spokesman said the cancellation of the public exhibition of the draft LEP was to allow "a minor amendment" and would not comment further. However, documents obtained by the Northern Leader reveal Council would need to remove a public trust placed on the park to allow the reclassification process.
As a result of the oversight, a further report on the proposal will be prepared by Council's planning department and submitted to councillors seeking a resolution to remove the trust and endorse a revised draft LEP for exhibition.
If councillors endorse the revised plan, it will be re-exhibited for community comment and a public hearing rescheduled.
The Illawarra Greens have blasted Council over the oversight, branding it a waste of ratepayers money.
Greens spokesperson Jill Merrin said Council had failed to follow proper legal procedures.
"The land was initially purchased by Council for public recreation, so any exhibition must make it clear that this will be revoked as part of the reclassification," Ms Merrin said.
"Now Council and the Department of Planning have to start all over again& Councillors will now have to vote again on whether the LEP should be exhibited and the public trust revoked.
"It makes you wonder how much other public land has been lost through Council doing the wrong thing."
Residents have been fighting to stop the reclassification of the park with 300 people objecting to the plan at a public meeting last month.
"This will be a great chance for Council to finally vote against this land grab, given the already enormous number of objections from the community to further development at Sandon Point," Ms Merrin said.