Athletes young and old want the bays Precinct to include room for sports ovals. Picture: Jess Husband.
AN ALLIANCE of clubs from Sydney’s inner west are calling on Premier Mike Baird to make sport a priority in the Bays Precinct.
Representatives from soccer, football, cricket, netball and other codes have formed the Sporting Alliance to lobby the government for at least seven sports fields just weeks from the State Election.
While there are no formal concept plans for the precinct, Mr Baird has described the area taking in Balmain, Rozelle, Annandale, Lilyfield and Pyrmont as Sydney’s “most exciting” urban renewal project.
Alliance organiser Glenn Burge, also Balmain and District Football Club’s president, said there was a desperate need for sporting facilities and open space in this part of the city.
“The recent development of Harold Park has done nothing, it’s underwater most of the time,” Mr Burge said.
The Bays Precinct is set for a major makeover in the coming years.
“There’s a huge population in the inner west and there needs to be a variety of different sporting facilities to accommodate their participation in sport, ” Mr Burge said.
“Politicians should never stand in the way of a proud sports mum or dad.”
Mr Burge said the alliance wanted a written guarantee for sporting fields for all codes as a planning principle for the Bays Precinct before March 1.
BAYS PRECINCT SET FOR EXTREME SHAKE-UP
CONFIDENTIAL BRIEFING ONLY TELLS HALF THE STORY
“We believe the state government currently has no intention of delivering the seven to 10 sporting fields the area needs for the number of new residents moving in,” Mr Burge said.
“Sport is a critical part of community building, it’s part of the social fabric that helps ensure the community is also fit and healthy.”
Artist’s impression of what the Bays Precinct could look like in the future.
Balmain state Greens MP Jamie Parker also fears that Urban Growth has not committed to particular public interests such as public access to the foreshore.
“There is a huge need for childcare and sporting facilities, recreation and open space, not just million dollar waterfronts,” Mr Parker said.
“I think it’s clear the state government is determined to ignore the community and the international experts, and simply hand over our precious public harbour lands to private developers.”
The Bays Precinct is one of the most important urban renewal projects in Sydney.
A spokesman for Planning Minister Pru Goward said no future plans for the Bays Precinct had been finalised.
“A Transformation Plan will be informed by an extensive public engagement program, which will include the Sydneysiders’ Summit in May this year,” the spokesman said.
The Space To Play campaign launches on Saturday 7 February, with sporting organisations, players and personalities rallying at Sydney Secondary College’s Balmain Campus to demand a guarantee of adequate open active spaces for the Bays Precinct.
HAVE YOUR SAY
WHAT: Rally to demand 7-10 sports ovals in the Bays Precinct development
WHERE: Sydney Secondary College, Balmain Campus, 23-33 Terry St Balmain
WHEN: Saturday February 7 at 3.45pm
