Community concern for Parramatta Park.
A proposed Greater Sydney Parklands government agency will manage parklands across Greater Sydney. Suzette Meade of the North Parramatta Residents' Action Group has expressed concerns that this will lead to greater commercialisation of Parramatta Park.
Read the transcript of the article below.
Parramatta Park: Fears new management will lead to less public access.
The Parramatta Advertiser, 16 July 2020
by Joanne Vella
Parramatta Park Trust will soon cease managing the UNESCO-listed treasure under a State Government plan to run several Sydney parklands with a "clear vision'' under one network but critics say it will take the 85 hectare treasure out of the community's hands.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said a Greater Sydney Parklands government agency would champion the "Vision'' to manage Parramatta, Centennial Park and Moore Park, Western Sydney trusts, along with Callan Park in Lilyfield and the Fernhill Estate in Mulgoa.
The "Vision" lays out a 50-year plan for 6000 hectares of parklands, which attract 40 million visitors a year.
"In the past, the individual parkland trusts have had a sole focus on the land within their boundaries,'' Mr Stokes said.
"Now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to look beyond those boundaries to plan for our parklands and open spaces over the next 50 years as a connected and vital network that forms the backbone of our city.''
Michael Rose has been appointed the Greater Sydney Parklands chairman.
However, North Parramatta Residents' Action Group spokeswoman Suzette Meade rejected the new structure and said it would lead to more commercial activity and less green space for Parramatta Park.
Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, the park has hosted events including FOMO, Ultra and Sydney Symphony Under the Stars.
"It's become more and more of a business machine and we've seen successive ticketed events,'' Ms Meade said.
"Less and less of the park is accessible to the public and it's their park. "We're not getting more green space to match the population.
"There is a massive concern if the Trust is no longer around and there's going to be more commercialisation of the park.''
Ms Meade called for the community to be represented under the new network.
The discussion paper highlights a goal to transform walking and cycling in Parramatta Park by removing cars from its internal loop, with the two-month trial for this due to end on Sunday.
Callan Park is the first park to be identified through the GSP for urgent restorative work, with $10 million in funding allocated to upgrade the connection with the waterfront and Bay Run.
Read more about Greater Sydney Parklands on the NSW Government Planning Industry & Environment website.
