The former Oatley Bowling Club is shaping up to be a big winner in State Election 2019 with Member for Oatley Mark Coure committing $900,000 for works to transform the site into a public space for community use.
This follows an announcement last week by Labor candidate for Oatley, Lucy Mannering, that a State Labor Government would provide $200,000 to cleaning up the site provided it stay as open space.
Mr Coure is also committed to keeping the area as open space and has called for the future master plan for the site to include innovative ideas to create a unique place for community use.
Last December, Georges River Council announced it would not proceed with a planning proposal to rezone half the site to allow five storeys of seniors’ housing after the Department of Planning advised that the planning proposal was unlikely to be approved.
Instead, the council will prepare a new master plan for the site to guarantee its future use as open space and recreation.
Mr Coure said that the $900,000 funding will ensure that people from every generation can enjoy a diverse range of recreation activities, both active and passive, and will also enable the development of some facilities which are not currently available in the local area.
“I am delighted that the NSW Government can provide this funding to create a new open space and recreation facility for residents of the local area,” Mr Coure said.
“This funding will transform this unused space into an open green space for Oatley and surrounding communities.
“It acts on community feedback and protects this land being sold off to developers.
“I call on Georges River Council with the upcoming masterplan for the facility to consider innovative concepts for the whole community to enjoy.
“The masterplan could include walking and cycle paths, adventure play areas, a multipurpose ball sports court area, exercise stations, a skate zone and an open grassed space.
“This land is now protected for future generations and will not be flogged off for development.
“We know that green space is one of the biggest priorities for the community in the Georges River area and the rehabilitation of the former bowling club site will create a unique new outdoor space which also offers easy access to the adjoining Myles Dunphy Reserve,” Mr Coure said.
