Greater Sydney Parklands – 50-year Vision
Submissions were due 30 September (Click here to download Submission)
Mr Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, announced on 17 July both the draft Landscape Structure Plan (LSP) for Callan Park AND launched the Greater Sydney Parklands – 50-Year Vision for Sydney’s Open Space and Parklands.
This new mega-agency, Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) will bring together under one agency a number of existing state government owned open spaces and parklands across Greater Sydney (and new parklands in the future).
The GSP will bring together Centennial Parklands (including Moore Park), Parramatta Park and Western Sydney Parklands (each of which have their own Trust)– and manage Fernhill at Mulgoa, and a portion of Callan Park.
A 50-Year Vision for Sydney’s Open Space and Parklands: A Discussion Paper (Click to download)
The GSP has a Board of 8 people. Michael Rose AM, Chairman of the Greater Sydney Committee has been appointed Chair of the GSP and Suellen Fitzpatrick (formerly CEO of Western Sydney Parklands) is CEO and Ex Officio member of the Board. There is no representation for Callan Park. The Board will be responsible for making decisions about Callan Park but we have few details about this role.
Unknowns:
- GSP is responsible for the area of Callan Park currently managed by Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) about 40 hectares of the total 61 hectares.
We know that area is generally the middle of Callan Park but have no details. We have no information about how the ambitions of the Landscape Structure Plan and the GSP will coordinate with land-owner, Health, to holistically manage the entire area of Callan Park and Broughton Hall?
- Decisions about Callan Park – how will the community have input?
- GSP Board – will its proceedings be open and transparent?
- Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 – assurances have been given that the legislation will be respected. This is a crucial no go area. The community must be assured that throughout this process there will be no breaches of the Act.
- All the other sites in the GSP allow commercial activities. Callan Park is unique and the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act does not permit commercial / for-profit activities but no consideration has been given to social enterprises. The Act must not be changed.
- Trust for Callan Park – the community has consistently called for a Trust to oversee Callan Park.