The architect who has designed the proposed pavilion in Evatt Park, Lugarno has defended his vision against criticism by objectors.
Nicholas Christo has his architectural practice in Lugarno and is a member of the Lugarno Progress Association.
He said the concert pavilion proposed by the association to be built in the park next to Webbs Dam has been designed by a local to benefit the community.
“This isn’t a development by a developer,” Mr Christo said. “This is a piece of public architecture for the community and it will be owned by the council.”
Mr Christo responded to a number of concerns raised by objectors to the pavilion plan including noise, safety, the proposed location and possible damage to the park.
Objectors said the pavilion will be only 65-metres from homes in Linden Crescent.
Mr Christo said that while the closest Linden Crescent property is approximately 65-metres from the site of the proposed pavilion, that is only to the boundary of the property.
“Houses are a further 15-metres approximately from the boundary, making them 80-metres away,” he said.
“One of the claims is there will be amplification from the slant of the roof. But the structure doesn’t amplify anything and it will be open on four sides. Even the Myer Music Bowl requires amplification.
“The orientation of the noise will go towards Forest Road, not Linden Crescent,” Mr Christo said.
Objectors have said the pavilion is in the wrong place.
Mr Christo said the proposed site is in a natural amphitheatre sloping towards the pavilion and affording shade for the audience.
“Several other locations were considered, including one near the amenities block which was not selected as it was closer to residents, particularly those in Allwood Crescent,” he said.
“All of the other locations meant that the spectators would sit on the football field which is exposed, flat and subject to damage.”
Objectors were concerned about the safety of children with the stage being so close to Webbs Dam.
“The stage floor will be no more than 600mm above the ground,” Mr Christo said. “Children will be easily seen and just like any location near water, parents need to be vigilant.”
The proposed cost of $135,000 has been criticised by objectors. Mr Christo said this was an estimate only.
“I expect cost would be much less than $100,000 because it is a community project and a lot of the labour will be donated,” he said.
Lugarno Progress Association president Ken Mason said the State Government had provided $50,000 from the Stronger Communities Fund towards construction costs of the stage.
He said that the location for the pavilion was perfect with the amenities building about 50-metres away and the children’s playground only 30-metres away which will be handy for parents to keep an eye on their children while a concert is being held on the stage.
The Lugarno Progress Association wants to hold five formal events a year at the pavilion while other events could be held by school and sporting presentations, Carols in the Park and perhaps the return of Shakespeare in the Park. All these will require approval by Georges River Council.
“This will be a pavilion for all the community,” he said.
But Linden Crescent resident Sandra Ridley has a petition with more than 700 signatures objecting to the pavilion plan which she will present to the council this week.
“To say it is a small core of objectors is incorrect,” she said.
“When we started going to association meetings they did not want to hear about our suggestions for another location,” she said.
She criticised the argument that the proposed site is then best location because it is in a natural amphitheatre.
“We don’t live in Ancient Greece,” she said. “With amplifiers the stage could go anywhere. We don’t need an amphitheatre. That’s a silly argument. There are more suitable spaces in can go in the park.
“We are going to be copping all the noise. We measured the sound levels at Music in the Park even last October and it was over the allowed noise levels as specified in the contract.
“I don’t care if my house is further than 65-metres for the site. It is 65-metres from the boundary of my property and I will still hear the noise. During the last event in the park I could hear the noise from my balcony.”
Fellow Linden Crescent resident Michael Spring said the the amphitheatre contour around the proposed stage will create noise problems for the houses situated along the rim.
“Any sound created on a stage at this site will be significantly louder at the house than at the boundary,” he said.
“This was experienced at a recent concert arranged by the applicant resulting in several noise
complaints which are yet to be acknowledged by Georges River Council.”
Ms Ridley said that having the stage only 600mm high defeats the necessity for having a stage because no-one will be able to see it.
“If the stage is that low they may as well put a bit of carpet on the ground,” she said.
“Until we started our petition there were a very small number of people who know about this development application,” she said.
“Now we have started our petition we have found the majority of residents in Lugarno do not want this development built,” she said.
“We have put up multiple notifications about the DA on the community blackboard at the Lugarno shops every day and these are rubbed out every day.”
She said the stage will become a gathering place for teenagers drinking at night and will be covered in graffiti within a couple of weeks.
“It is the very, very wrong location. It is going to wreck a lovely part of Lugarno,” she said.
