More and more information is coming to light of Eurobodalla Council proceeding to sell off Public Reserves that it identifies as 'surplus to use'.
In 2012 Eurobodalla Council commissioned a contractor to look at their 'stock' of Public Reserves that had been dedicated for public recreation in previous subdivisions.
These public reserves were once a requirement to ensure there was local space for communities to enjoy. Council is now of the opinion it does not want to be burdened by these natural spaces and is pushing ahead to sell off a "kill list" that they have waiting in the wings.
The most recent public outcry came from the community discovery of a once dedicated public reserve in Sunshine Bay going to council for approval for a three lot subdivision with Council being the developer.
Now another once dedicated public reserve has appeared in the Development Application register with Council once again being the developer selling off publicly owned land that they reclassified in 2012 from Community to Operational.
In 2012 when the community first found out the Council received 17 objections and a petition with 315 signatures raising concerns that the reclassification with the view to sell was purely for economic return, the reserve had active use (by humans and habitat)
Council chose to ignore the submissions and recommended that Councillors support getting rid of it.
Council's justification and conclusion:
The planning proposal seeks reclassification and rezoning of a relatively small amount of Council owned community land, the proceeds of which will be reinvested into appropriate Council projects, assets and infrastructure that represent the most community benefit.
The planning proposal has gone through an extensive consultation process and has been amended to address issues of significance raised during the exhibition period.
The broader community benefits made possible by the progression of the planning proposal OUTWEIGH the loss of a number of small and poorly used pockets of community land.
It is recommended that Council endorsement is given to return the Planning Proposal to the NSW Minister for Planning for making.
From the 2012 report to Councillors
Now Council wants to move ahead and sell off the reserve. They now wish to subdivide White Stone Park, the officially named park east of Hume Road and north of Cook Avenue, Sunshine Bay. They are planning to gain 5 lots from the subdivision.
And the only information the community has about this is to be found in the Development Application register that 'invites' submissions up to December 11th, 2019.
If the Council response of apparent indifference to speakers at the last Public Forum who pleaded that Council retain a nearby Public Reserve is to go by then this reserve and the many others that are coming to light are all destined to go as well.
