Re “Rally to save club site” (Leader, August 24).
Once again a lack of transparency and confidence in the development approval process is causing conflict between residents and their council.
If only we had a shared vision for our communities and collaborative decision making.
After more than a decade of neglect the new Georges River Council has a proposal for the old Oatley Bowling Club site.
The problem is it’s a poorly considered proposal and the ‘consultation’ process denies people any real opportunity to influence the outcome.
This is particularly inappropriate because the site is public land and as such the community has a legal and moral right to say how it’s used.
I’m in favour of the site being redeveloped as a residential aged care facility run by a not-for-profit provider. We desperately need to accommodate our aging population and people should be able to stay reasonably close to family and friends and to familiar surroundings and services as they age.
The best of these facilities would incorporate a community garden, Men’s Shed, library, community centre or pre-school.
That’s best practice in aged care design – many examples already exist. I wouldn’t mind a 5-6 storey development even if that meant the building footprint was larger. Yes we’d technically lose some public land but the whole community would benefit.
The bushland and creek in Myles Dunphy Reserve would remain untouched and for the public to enjoy.
But I am strongly opposed to a private developer building a 7-plus storey, high density block and selling off the units to anyone over 55 or with a disability who could afford one. There’s no public benefit in that.
While residents can have a say we don’t know if anyone’s listening or if our opinions, experience and wishes will be respected. Council’s development culture and processes need an overhaul.
Michele Adair, Oatley
Yes. Hurstville Council did identify the site for an aged care facility back in 2009 and put it in the Community Strategic Plan. And it was going to be two storeys.
In the years since then it has grown into seniors housing (no care involved) and up to nine storeys in a vertical village on public land carved out of Myles Dunphy Reserve. All decided behind closed doors.
Now Hurstville Council has been sacked. The administrator of Georges River Council doesn't have to, and should not, pursue this proposal. It should be shelved until a new elected council can bring community's aspirations to the planning process.
Kim Wagstaff, Oatley
