A PLAN to take an area of bushland from the Royal National Park to make an extra football field at Loftus Oval has outraged conservationists.
But Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers Football Club president John Lane, who initiated the move, said there was a ‘‘critical need’’ for more playing fields in Sutherland Shire.
The plan was due to be considered by Sutherland Shire Council on Monday night and could ultimately end up on the desk of new Environment Minister and Cronulla MP Mark Speakman.
The council will also consider a breakthrough in negotiations over its long-standing request for Loftus, Heathcote and Grays Point ovals to be excised from the Royal National Park, where stringent rules govern the development of facilities.
A report to a council committee last week said the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had agreed to a deal that would involve the council gifting the former night soil depot land in Spring Gully, Bundeena, to the Royal in exchange for the council gaining ownership of the three ovals.
The southern Sydney branch of National Parks Association (NPA) of NSW expressed its dismay (see panel below) at more park land being taken.
But Mr Lane strongly defended the plan to expand Loftus Oval.
He said Sutherland Shire Football Association had about 19,000 registered players this season, an increase of 1200 on last year.
‘‘Football in the shire is growing at a pace never before experienced and the need for more fields is critical, especially in a place like Loftus, which is strategically located,’’ he said.
‘‘The council and the state government envisage the shire’s population growing by 100,000-plus over the next 20 years. An opportunity such as this is rare.’’
Mr Lane said he was ‘‘tremendously privileged’’ to live next to the Royal National Park but also ‘‘passionate about the importance of team sport assisting in the development of young children’’.
‘‘Our sport, in particular, has developed itself into a sport that can be shared by whole families,’’ he said. ‘‘All of the 26 clubs within the shire have many whole families registered and playing football throughout the weekend and of course training throughout the week.
‘‘I am also a pragmatist and even though I love to use the national park, the piece of land has not been utilised by the parks for the 46 years I have lived in this area. It used to be used as a pony club, so does have some history of being utilised for sport.’’
Mr Lane said the land was relatively small and ‘‘corralled’’ by the Sydney Tramway Museum tram line and a national park maintenance and workshop area.
He said the bushland was not of high quality and for many years was a well-known spot for homosexual activity, which concerned club officials and parents.
STRONG OPPOSITION
The southern Sydney branch of National Parks Association (NPA) of NSW wrote to Sutherland Shire Council expressing its dismay at taking more parkland at Loftus for an extra sporting field.
‘‘We are further dismayed to read that council has negotiated with NPWS, using the Bundeena night soil depot as leverage to gain ownership of Loftus Oval, Heathcote Oval and Grays Point Oval,’’ president Brian Everingham wrote.
He said the council was correct in stating a transfer of ownership would would need an act of Parliament.
Mr Everingham said his group was opposed to the excision ‘‘because we fear what sporting developments would occur on those sites (including multi-storey clubhouses)’’.
The group also fears ‘‘NPWS would lose its power as a consent authority on matters on its boundary and affecting its catchments’’ and ‘‘that council might move one day to change the use of such lands from sporting ovals, etc to ... housing’’. The letter said the association was ‘‘vehemently’’ opposed to any expansion of such facilities.
‘‘The national park estate is not just leftover land that can be grabbed by any developer or council when it sees fit,’’ Mr Everingham wrote.
‘‘The NPA believes therefore, that our national parks are essential for the health of all of us, for the health of our environment and for the health of our planet.
‘‘They are not just lands that are set aside until we find some other use for them. They must be protected and cared for and not seen as land that can be grabbed.’’
Do you think national park land should be used to expand Loftus Oval?