Vocal crowd slams Gibson Park plan

A VOCAL crowd at Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club voted unanimously on Wednesday against plans to reclassify part of Thirroul's Thomas Gibson Park from community land to operational land to provide access to a residential development.

Wollongong City Council is asking for public comment on the proposal, which would include removing the public trust over that section of the park. The rezoning would enable Wrexham Rd to be extended into Stockland's development site at Sandon Point.

Austinmer activist Dr Stephen Allen said in 1962 Council purchased Thomas Gibson Park and at the time of the purchase, assured the public that the land would be held for public recreation.

The assurance was given by establishing a Public Trust over the park he said.

"Council is now breaking that assurance by seeking to remove the Public Trust from a portion of the Park," Mr Allen said.

In August 2000, Council promised Stockland they would provide a road access for Sandon Point subdivision at the expense of playing fields and open recreational space," he said.

"Council calls this road access to the Stockland site, the preferred' option but they never considered any other option," Bulli activist Jill Walker said.

Ward 1 Councillor Alice Cartan said the proposed north-south road through Sandon Point would become a 'rat run' for people wanting to avoid the main road.