There will be further opportunities for public feedback about the future of a park near Goulburn’s CBD. Photo: Google Maps/Screenshot.
A Southern Tablelands council has abandoned a proposal to sell a park, instead deciding to consider alternative uses for the land.
At a recent meeting, Goulburn Mulwaree Council (GMC) accepted a report into the future uses of a local park.
The site is named in meeting documents as Howard Boulevard Park, although it is also known as Gibson Park.
The papers say it has been “undertilised for many years”, with minimal patronage and no money allocated in the council’s budget for maintenance or upgrade works (other than regular mowing).
It is at the corner of Howard Boulevard and Gibson Street, about three kilometres north of Goulburn’s CBD.
The documents also state that there is a caveat on its title, meaning it can only be used as a public reserve.
While it was recommended that it ultimately be sold once rezoning of the area was finalised, Councillor Jason Shepherd won support for another approach.
He called on GMC to keep the park and transform it.
“[The fact retaining the park was not] presented as an option amongst four other options that were all about selling it … to my mind is not reflective of the community, and it doesn’t reflect our role as councillors to actually reflect what the community thinks on these things,” he said.
Cr Shepherd said his motion allowed “breathing room” for community consultation that would inform the council’s next actions.
Mayor Nina Dillon said while there had been no equipment in the park for about 15 years, it was a site the council could invest in as a family-friendly area.
“It’s going to have limited use as a park if there’s nothing there for the community to do,” Cr Dillon said.
“In this day and age, we can get hardy equipment that can stand the test of time. We can put in a security system if we feel that’s needed.”
Cr Bob Kirk said it wasn’t “worth pursuing” the sale (noting it could come with a subdivision) of the park.
He raised his concern that this could limit the council’s decision-making capacity around its uses.
“I’ve made a note of all the suggestions I’ve heard tonight — a playground, an inclusive playground, an open park, potential residential housing, unknown use by a future owner if we sell it, cricket nets, a basketball set-up, a rage cage, barbecues and shelters,” Cr Kirk said.
“That’s a lot of stuff on a little block, and we’re not here tonight to make that call … We leave it like it is, is my view.”
The need to retain control of the site was echoed by Cr Michael Prevedello, who called on the council to consider the nearby residents’ need for infrastructure.
“Now, that might not cut a lot of mustard with a lot of people, but it does with me,” he said.
“They’ve chosen to live in this area under a certain context and pretext, and if we go selling this piece of real estate, we upset that dynamic balance.”
Cr Caitlin Flint urged her fellow councillors to make a decision to resolve the “long-winded process” that had stretched back months.
“We’ve consulted to death about this park and we’ve heard loud and clear from residents that what they want done with it [is] they want it retained.
“That’s where it should end.”
Cr Flint said it was “also tone deaf” that the consultants appeared to have been told to seek “as much as you can, get best bang for buck for council”, in light of that feedback.
During the discussion, Cr Liz McKeon called on the council to consider traffic flow and parking in the area, raising her concern motorists could become a risk to people playing in the park.
“I drive every day past this park, and there’s a lot of traffic … If we’re going to turn it into a park, I just don’t know how safe it will be.”
A staff member told the meeting that there was “every chance” the NSW Department of Planning could reject the requested rezoning and removal of the caveat.
“It’s probably rare that it would go this far and be rejected, I suppose, but it is a possibility, albeit unlikely.”
The success of Cr Shepherd’s motion means that a report on how the park could be used will be placed on public display.
Councillors will also receive a report on the costs of keeping the site and the potential engagement they can be involved in (including with residents and police).
