Georges River Council have lodged a development application for stages two and three of the Penshurst Park Sporting Hub project.
The stages have an approximate combined cost of $17 million and will be partially funded by a Federal Government grant.
The works will include a synthetic football field and cricket pitches, a walk track, exercise station and public amenities. There will also be a 275-seat grandstand, medical rooms, storage facilities, a youth centre and playground as well as 327 additional parking spaces.
Stage three will see the extension of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre facilites.
Council administrator John Rayner said the works submitted in the DA were consistent with the previously approved Penshurst Park master plan and plan of management.
“These works will lead to significantly improved sporting facilities at Penshurst Park and create a first class regional centre for local sport,” he said.
“The expansion of the aquatic centre will consist of a new internal grandstand and two additional mixed-use courts to accommodate basketball and futsal.
“In addition to this, there will be a gymnastics area, café, outdoor deck and change room facilities.
“These major works will bring tangible community benefits and create a more diverse recreational space within the local area.”
The Penshurst Park Sporting Hub includes extension of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, a new indoor cricket centre, synthetic football field, grandstand, amenity buildings and passive recreation area.
Kathryn Skelsey started an online petition at the time calling on Georges River Council to keep Penshurst Park a freely accessible, relaxing, natural space for the local community.
“There are people from Hurstville who come down to use the netball courts or to let their children ride their bikes. They don’t have anywhere else to go, yet they didn’t know about the plans for the park,” she said.
Brian Shaw from the Hurstville Residents Association Inc said the hub would “pretty much privatise” the remaining sports field area for single use.
“At present it is used for cricket and soccer and the people in the units on the southern side of Cambridge Street use it as their backyard. This will all change with the sports hub,” Mr Shaw said.
“The DA has been revised with even less area for the community.
“I understand the council regulations require a notice to be placed on site to notify people of the DA. This has not been done.”
Submissions deadline on the DA has been extended until Friday, September 29.
