Ziems Park meeting attracts over 100 people

Over 100 attended a public meeting on Saturday to discuss Council's plan to rezone part of Ziems Park to allow for a shopping centre expansion.

OVER 100 people have sent a loud message to Wollongong City Council to keep Ziems Park as community land.

A public meeting held on 0.43 hectares of parkland that Council want to rezone to allow the expansion of nearby Stockland shopping centre has condemned the proposal and called on the land to be retained for future recreational needs of the community.

"The main thing talked about at the meeting was the loss of parkland and the need to use the area for future recreational development," Area 4 Neighbourhood Committee convenor Valerie Hussain said.

Also attending the meeting were councillors Alice Cartan, David Martin and Carolyn Griffiths, who spoke against the rezoning proposal.

A resolution was unanimously passed to instruct Council to retain the current zoning of the land and to prepare a master plan for future commercial expansion of Corrimal.

Mrs Hussain said despite drizzling rain, the strong attendance at the meeting should send a clear message to Council that the rezoning of Ziems Park should not go ahead.

"The commercial implications for the northern end of Corrimal and the loss of passive recreational land if the rezoning goes ahead would be a planning disaster," Mrs Hussain said.

Other issues discussed were flooding and traffic.

The Neighbourhood Committee will now send a submission to Council voicing their objection to the rezoning of the park and call for a strategic plan for future retail expansion in Corrimal.