Randwick Environment Park extension denied in council meeting

By ABHA HAVAL

In a recent council meeting, a motion put forward by Councillor Michael Olive that sought to extend the Randwick Environment Park (REP) was declared lost, as Defence postpones the housing proposal on the land due to changes in Defence planning.

The Defence had previously proposed plans to build 991 Live-in Accommodation (LIA) dwellings and Defence Housing Australia (DHA) development in the area between the Western section of Randwick barracks and the REP.

Member for Kingsford and Assistant Minister for Defence, the honorary Matt Thistlethwaite indicated in a newsletter notifying citizens that the proposal is to be delayed by 4 years due to recent changes in the Defence priorities. Nonetheless, the Department of Defence wishes to continue with the DHA development consisting of 62 two-story dwellings along Bundock Street.

The Council proposed an alternative vision to extend the REP into the adjacent land, a bushland reserve, that was lost in votes in spite of the “biodiversity loss that is plaguing Australia.”

History of Randwick Environment Park

The LIA area has been left underdeveloped for several months and comprises mostly of “mature trees and critically endangered native plant species such as the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS) and Sunshine Wattle.”

The area is indigenous to 92 species of plants and habitat of birds with a sighting of 66 bird species and other wildlife.

However, the LIA area has been used by the military since the 1900s, and there still remains fragments of cement slabs and demolished naval stores.

The Council had asked to transfer the ownership of the land to the Randwick Council similar to the transfer the Defence made of REP in 2010 to the Randwick Council for conserving the bushlands and community recreation.

The motion was lost by 6 votes against the deciding 9

Councillor Daniel Rosenfeld, who voted against the extension said, “I don’t believe that this land needs to be acquired from Defence at present. It is important for Defence to have adequate space to ensure that they can continue to perform their role in the security of our nation.”

On the contrary, Councillor Olive believes that the LIA site should be re-vegetated for conservation of nature and for the benefit of the community.

According to the Plan of Management, the naturally occurring plant species, native birds and various species of terrestrial wildlife has been recorded within the area of REP. Most of these faunas have not been sighted anywhere else in Randwick or eastern suburbs.

“The existing bushland on the LIA site helps to support this biodiversity and will form as one of the six main locations in Sydney for the critically endangered ESBS recovery plan.”

“The Defence indicated that the ESBS on the site might be removed in offsets. That would be terrible,” Cr Olive said.

“Extending re-vegetation on the LIA site is consistent with Council’s vision of 40% tree canopy cover by 2040, and would increase wildlife habitat in the area and strengthen the corridor between Centennial Park, REP, Malabar Headland, and Kamay National Park.”

According to a DHA detailed site investigation, “Testing across the LIA and DHA development sites indicate widespread asbestos contamination and groundwater containing levels of PFAS (chemicals) well above safe drinking standards.”

Local communities have expressed concerns regarding the contamination at meetings with the Defence stating that it is unsafe for housing to be built on this land.

“The cost of remediating the land to a safe level is another issue,” said Cr Olive.

“If the site was to become an extension of the REP, it may not need the same level of remediation, reducing health risks and costs additional to the benefits for the community including creating a natural environment and no increase to heat island effects.”

Cr Olive mentions, “The motion made clear any outcome would be negotiated and I was disappointed that 9 Councillors (5 Liberal, 1 Independent, 3 Labor including the mayor) voted against it.”

In the next steps for nature conservation and extension of the REP, Cr Olive said, “I intend to canvas interest in local campaign to get this on the political agenda. Saving the LIA site is something many residents have discussed but it may take a campaign to make it into reality.”

“That will be the time to bring the motion back to Council.”