MAJOR sporting facility upgrades proposed for Peel Park at North Richmond haven’t been received with joy by everyone.
The draft plan for the 9.7ha Peel Park is part of a recently released plan of management for community land within the Redbank precinct. The plan is now open for community comment until April 19.
Peel Park, at one end of Arthur Phillip Drive, currently has a BMX track, a dog off-leash park and two sports fields used occasionally for cricket and rugby league.
The upgrade comprises cricket nets, three netball courts, two formal soccer pitches, two formal carparks, two overflow carparks, 11 floodlights and major tree plantings alongside Arthur Phillip Drive.
Two residents of Pecks Road told the Gazette their main objections to the development were the “tonnes and tonnes of earth” that would have to be moved to create the two soccer pitches and the three on-park carparks, as the park is right next to already beleaguered Redbank Creek. They also objected to the floodlights proposed.
“If you bought a property on Pecks Road overlooking the current passive recreation area, your house would soon plummet in value,” one of the residents said.
He said the developer had indicated to them last year the development on the park would just be a cricket pitch with a fence around it like at Richmond Park. He also said North Richmond and Districts Community Action Association had met with Hawkesbury Sports Council about the proposed plan.
The Gazette asked the Sports Council’s president David Bertenshaw whether it supported the plan.
“We’ve had a look but we’re still going through it and it’s still under consideration,” he said, adding that the Sports Council would make a submission to the community consultation.
The upgrade of sporting facilities at Peel Park was part of the Voluntary Planning Agreement for the Redbank estate.
The overall community land management plan for the Redbank precinct, of which the Peel Park plan is a component, covers seven parks and reserves within and around Redbank, and what it calls four ‘pocket parks’. It details what land use will be permitted in the parks, which will service the future 1400 homes of the Redbank estate.
The community consultation is also asking for suitable names for some areas.
You can see the plan at Hawkesbury Council at Windsor; Windsor and Richmond Libraries or on Council’s website at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au.
Email your submission to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or you can post it to PO Box 146, Windsor NSW 2756.
