Greenwich spearheads push to save Centennial Park

Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich has launched a campaign to save the Centennial Parklands from a raft of possible new developments including car parks, accommodation and adventure sports facilities.

A number of projects are on the drawing boards for the 360-hectare parklands – which are comprised of Centennial, Moore and Queens Parks – including an underground car park at Moore Park West, ‘campus-style accommodation’ at the ES Marks Athletics Field, an outdoor adventure sports centre in the south-western corner of Centennial Park, a shared pedestrian/bicycle pathway along the northern side of the park, and more commercial development at Fox Studios and the Entertainment Quarter.

The plans come as the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust struggles to find new sources of income, with State Government funding set to cease next year.

Mr Greenwich said he supported some of the proposals but could not support those that would be detrimental to the parklands, which are considered the ‘lungs’ of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

“While I welcome some proposals, especially the shared cycle and pedestrian path along Oxford St, I cannot support development that will damage the parklands and reduce scarce green open space in the inner city,” said Mr Greenwich.

“[For example] an underground car park would seriously risk old growth trees and stymie growth of existing and future trees, with loss of green open space to make way for access and ventilation stacks,” he said.

Mr Greenwich also expressed concerns that the proposed car park would undermine the viability of the CBD and South East Light Rail project, which is set to serve the parklands from the year 2020.

The Sydney MP said he did not blame the Trust for seeking revenue, but said safeguarding the parklands from inappropriate development was more important.

“While I understand the cash-strapped Trust needs to generate revenue as the State Government has chopped recurrent funding, the parklands should be protected first and foremost for the outdoor recreation needs of present and future generations, as Governor Macquarie intended in the 1811 Sydney Common bequest,” he said.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore backed Mr Greenwich’s comments, and said the State Government was shirking its responsibilities.

“I strongly believe Moore Park should be protected as parkland for public use. The State Government has a responsibility to maintain Centennial and Moore Parks, and forcing the Trust to seek funding elsewhere is a dereliction of that responsibility,” said Ms Moore.

“This land was set aside by Governor Macquarie as public open space. As our city’s population grows, so does the importance of this parkland. [It is] vitally important not just to local residents, but to people from all over Sydney. Hundreds of thousands of people each year visit the parks, wetlands and sports fields,” she said.

Spokespersons for the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, and the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage, did not respond to requests for comment.