Federal MPs Michelle Rowland of Greenway and Ed Husic of Chifley, have condemned the latest decision by the Liberals in Blacktown City Council to sell off 33 local parks and reserves for residential development and called on the Federal Liberal candidates in Blacktown to state a position on the decision.
In a motion made by Liberal Cr. Jess Diaz, 33 parks and reserves in Blacktown, Seven Hills, Kings Langley, Marayong, Quakers Hill, Kings Park, Doonside, Whalan, Emerton, Shalvey, Hebersham and Hassall Grove have been put on a Liberal Party hit list.
“It is now time for Liberal candidates in Blacktown to step up and say whether they back the motion proposed by Cr. Diaz and supported by his Liberal colleagues,” Ms Rowland said.
“I know many families enjoy these public parks and use them for a variety of activities throughout the week and especially on weekends.
“Our public spaces should be left to the public to enjoy. Once they are rezoned and developed, they are gone forever.
“The really worrying thing about this is the complete lack of community consultation. Local residents have had no say about how these open spaces should be used.”
Mr Husic believes selling off our community’s recreation space defies logic.
“This decision comes after suddenly shutting Mt Druitt Swimming Pool and at the same time that Council is threatening to take over people’s homes to create new open space,” Mr Husic said.
“Many of these small parks service communities where kids don’t have large yards to kick a ball around. How many community services and facilities will be taken away?
“Blacktown Council has just received a sizeable contribution from the Federal Government to go towards the cost of providing facilities like these to the community.” by Nick Trainor and David Fields