MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Green Labor Divide Over Protecting Open
Space - No Rezoning Says Greens
The Greens are directly opposing Labor party support for a contentious proposal to rezone and sell off part of the Bronte Bowling club.
Over a 100 people met on Thursday night to hear Waverley Council's ideas on how to help the financially stricken club.
An architect described a plan to sell one of the bowling greens for residential development to provide cash for the extensive refurbishment of the Club building.
Waverley ALP Mayor Paul Pearce told the audience that this would require a rezoning from "private open space" to a residential A zoning.
Randwick Councillor Murray Matson, the Greens Coogee candidate, claims that Labor's proposal will give local residents the "worst of both choices".
"It will be the worst of both choices, development on existing open space coupled with a noisy intensification of use of the Club itself. Waverley Council is allowing itself to be seduced by the development industry over this."
Clr Matson told the audience that the Greens wanted to retain the open space zoning and that financial alternatives to that of a sell off were possible. He said,
"Both the Club's directors and the Council are being mislead by the development industry. Most of the evening was taken up by an architect who presented only alternatives that involved massive redevelopment and the alienation of open space."
Cr Matson will be writing to the State Government requesting that independent financial advice be offered to the Club's Board of Directors. He said,
"The Club's Board of Directors needs independent advice. The Minister for Sport and Recreation should be offering the Club the expert advice of Departmental staff on how they can best use the facilities that they already have. The Greens counter proposal is the exploration of "active recreation alternatives" such as sports like tennis, bocce and boulles/petanc."
Cr Matson suggested that the Club should think about gaining the support of local residents for a monthly entertainment night to bring in more cash.
"The Clovelly Bowling club has apparently turned its financial situation around this way. Local residents are prepared to put up with the noise for one night a month because for the rest of the month they get to enjoy the open space."
Cr Matson stressed the need for the Club to adapt to changing social needs. He said,
"A change in demographics is making old-style bowling clubs less viable. Clubs (like any other business) need to provide activities in demand in the community and an environment which appeals to residents.
The Club has a great opportunity to do that and retain all its land. It would be a real tragedy if a head-in-the-sand attitude by the club were to lead to loss of this vital open space sporting asset.
The Sport and Rec department should be providing assistance to Clubs to help them make the transition to viability."