Residents will hold a community meeting at the former Oatley Bowling Club site this Sunday, January 22 to protest plans by Georges River Council to rezone the site to for an aged care development.
Last November, Georges River Council decided to proceed with a proposal to reclassify the site from community land to operational and to rezone part of the the site to SP2 Infrastructure for use of seniors housing and community facilities.
Georges River Council administrator John Rayner has said the Oatley Bowling Club site is “adjacent” to Myles Dunphy Reserve and had been identified under the former Hurstville Council for aged care.
Residents say the site is not adjacent to Myles Dunphy Reserve but is part of it, quoting Hurstville Council’s lawyers confirming in 2010 that ‘‘the reserve comprises an area of bushland, a scout hall and the site of the former Oatley Bowling Club’’.
Residents spokeswoman Melissa Derwent said that many members of the community have suggested to Georges River Council that the former Oatley Bowling Club should instead be retained in its entirety and is the ideal place for the creation of a community backyard, a community garden, bike track or nature playground.
“The former bowling club site is still part of Myles Dunphy Reserve and can provide the community with a much needed facility for gardening, outdoor recreation and education groups can share as a great meeting spot.”
She cited the success of the Camperdown Commons at the former Camperdown bowling club site AS a practical example of how such areas can be developed.
Ms Derwent believes now that the lifts at Oatley Station are operational there is the opportunity to put the former bowling club site into community use in a way that complements the ethos of Myles Dunphy Reserve, whom the reserve is named after.
“The former Hurstville council has tried to cash in on this unique site since the bowling club closed in 2005,” she said.
“The Council has considered a plan to have the site developed for aged care the majority of the community supported retaining the site in entirety in 2009.
“With a growing population and the loss of so many community spaces in the area in recent years, the community can’t afford to lose any more space.”
Residents have set up the Myles Dunphy Reserve Backyard Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/mylesdunphybackyard/
The community meeting will be held this Sunday, January 22 from 3:30pm to 8pm,
former Oatley Bowling Club, Myles Dunphy Reserve, River Road, Oatley.
