Tennis courts serve up conflict
Tensions flared at the August 17 Waverley Council meeting over a proposal to rezone open space in Bondi.
Members of Friends of Refugees from Eastern Europe (FREE) and concerned residents converged on the council chambers to debate the planned rezoning of the Maccabi tennis courts at 105 Wellington Street.
The contentious proposal seeks to rezone the tennis courts to allow a three storey, 800 square metre block of flats and community centre to be built. The plan has angered locals who have raised concerns over loss of open space, construction noise, parking issues and traffic.
The matter was deferred but Councillor John Wakefield sought an amendment that the council not support rezoning any part of this parcel of land to any use other than a community centre. The amendment was lost with the casting vote of Mayor Sally Betts.
Cr Wakefield said he was opposed to losing open space for a large residential building. “I will give proper consideration to a community centre on that property in future but it doesn’t require rezoning to achieve a community centre,” he said.
“It’s a rare piece of recreational open space, it is actively used for tennis and it would be a great shame to lose both the open space and the recreational space.”
Local Gabi Tobias said the main concern for residents was that the site was an integral part of the open space and recreation of the neighbourhood. “This open space is a finite resource which can never be replaced once it is rezoned,” she said.
Other concerns included traffic, parking congestion and noise pollution from construction work at the site.
“It’s a quiet residential Bondi neighbourhood and that is part of the reason residents choose to live here,” Ms Tobias said.
“No one is denying that FREE has a right to their community centre or that there is a need for that centre, but this site can’t support a development under environmental planning grounds. You can put a community centre somewhere that is already zoned appropriately.”
Ruben Morrison, a director of FREE since 1994, said he was “sympathetic” to community concerns but rezoning was necessary to make the centre financially viable.
“We need the residential component not to make money but because we don’t have the money to pay for the community centre,” he said. “Nobody wants a development next door to them; we want to serve the community, not make them concerned or agitate them.”
FREE was willing to work with residents, Mr Morrison said, even suggesting FREE might offer distressed residents accommodation and return flights to the Gold Coast if construction started.
Mr Morrison said many confused open space with parkland, playgrounds and trees, when 90 per cent of the space set to be developed was “nothing more than concrete painted green”.
“It has no contribution to the environment or to ecology,” he said.
The land is currently used as tennis courts.
Mr Morrison said if the development went ahead, FREE would open the centre to the community as a public space and keep 10 to 20 per cent of the residential flats as affordable housing.
Wellington Street resident Terri Libesman disagrees with Mr Morrison’s assessment of the space being nothing more than concrete.
“The tennis courts provide a much needed amenity and are used by community members and visitors of all ages. Many users walk to the courts from around Bondi. This contributes to community connection but also impacts by limiting traffic in the area.”
Concern has also been mounting over a developer buying the property after it has been rezoned. Cr Wakefield pleaded with FREE not to become a “patsy” to a big developer and to seek support from council and state governments.
“Come and ask council how we can help you achieve your goal of a community centre,” he said.
Mr Morrsion said he was open to any help council may provide.
– By Liam Kinkead
