Callan Park Master Plan to be altered
Image: Liberal Councillor John Jobling
A motion to make amendments to the Callan Park Master Plan has been met with outrage from Greens Councillors and residents.
At the October 23 Leichhardt Council meeting, Mayor Darcy Byrne successfully passed a motion requesting the State Government make amendments to the Master Plan through the inclusion of a sporting field on the Veterans Field site. All Labor and Liberal candidates voted for the motion, bar Liberal Councillor Vera-Ann Hannaford, who is on the Friends of Callan Park executive.
The decision was met with boos from the residents in the gallery, with some yelling loudly: “Don’t change the Master Plan.”
Greens Councillor Michele McKenzie was outraged at Mr Byrne, arguing he had turned his back on the community.
“I think the community should be a bit upset because we have entered into this process with good faith, and they spent an enormous amount of time contributing to it,” Ms McKenzie said.
“The Master Plan is going to have a Trust, so then if any amendments are going to be made maybe Darcy should go and speak to the community-represented Trust. That way you know the community is all involved, to do it like this just says: ‘The Master Plan doesn’t matter, we can do whatever we like’.”
During the last term of Council, the Greens budgeted and planned for sporting fields to be built on Glover St Oval. With Labor’s keen interest in sporting fields, Ms McKenzie questioned the speed at which Mr Byrne is implementing action on community issues. But Mr Byrne hit back, arguing the need for more sporting fields was a matter of urgency.
“I have been directing Council to double their efforts and treat [the Glover St Oval] with the highest level of urgency so that we have the playing fields delivered in time for the next winter season,” Mr Byrne said.
The vote highlights the Liberal Party’s change in priorities, having traditionally backed the Master Plan unconditionally.
“It is unusual, the Liberals have always been very, very good about preserving Callan Park,” Ms McKenzie said. “They have pursued and advertised their policy, which is to lobby the government to get sporting fields in the Bays Precinct and along the Railway Yards.
“That’s the perfect place – you’re not paving over heaven, so to speak.”
Liberal Councillor John Jobling said the need for more sporting fields in the plan needed to be considered.
“We looked at the situation and said it is reasonable to find out if the government would consider the option of additional open space sporting fields in Callan Park,” he said. “We agreed that it was worth finding if this option should be considered.”
