Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354.

Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife” https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Resident of Cambridge St, Penshurst NSW 2222. 0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com

There is no need to remove any pool lawn, for the sake of buses or cars - The pool lawn is a functional and important part of the HALC complex that would be greatly missed by many users of the facilities.

We agree that children safety is paramount, however the council's design actually fails in this respect. If 31 car spaces are included in the design then children will still be at risk of injury, or even at higher risk, from passing car traffic entering and leaving the bus bay. In the Traffic Report maps, car parking is placed just next to the bus drop off area. Surely this defeats the purpose of the bus bay being recessed away from the road, to protect children from passing traffic on Cambridge St. In this design the children would be just as unsafely exposed to car movements, especially backing cars with reduced vision.

I am not sure that the members of the community (residents and visitors), who called for greater safety for school children and more car parking, would have envisioned this design and its implications, and would not be likely to be in agreeance with the council’s solution if they knew about it.

The pool lawn may be regarded as only a small part of Stage 2 and 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan but it illustrates the council’s overall negative attitude to and disregard for green space. If provision of safe entry and egress of stadium users, and the addition of extra car parking spaces are important considerations, but the council also had regard for green space, then they would design multi-level car parking or place the bay, pathways and entries elsewhere rather than spreading pavement across precious grass and gardens.

The council has employed architects and engineers to advise them on how to build a multi-storey leisure centre, grandstand, sporting organisation offices and youth centre. So it would be expected that they can also design a safe passageway for children without the need to consume greenspace. If a multi-storey sporting complex can be designed then multi-storey car parking should also be possible, or the bus bay could be moved northwards to a location under the leisure centre building that already has a paved footprint, or the children’s pathway could take an alternative route.

There will be about 29 trees removed, including some mature gums. There is no evidence of them being replaced elsewhere close by.

The removal of garden is not 25% but considerably more than that, perhaps even up to 50% of the grass space.

Considering there is so much natural grass that is likely to be lost on the main oval of Penshurst Park under pavement, buildings and artificial turf in the proposed Stages 2 and 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan, then every opportunity should be being taken to retain grass elsewhere in this massive project.

The water table is already under stress, and maintenance of adequate green space offers protection of this important cycle by supplying a drainage point for water runoff. (Brian Shaw may be able to make more comment about this)

The ‘browning’ of our city of Sydney by reduced backyard spaces and increasing paving and building is contributing to the warming of our beautiful city. People go to our pools, beaches and waterways to cool down because our city is becoming increasingly hotter. It seems contrary then to be reducing the means by which our city can become a little cooler. Having a bus and car park closer to the pool is likely to make the indoor pool area hotter by rising heat from the nearby pavement. The leisure centre actually needs the existing grass space to manage the indoor pool space temperature.

The pool lawn and garden is not ‘redundant’ as stated by the council statement. It cannot be measured by the

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 1 / 7

number of people that walk on it. The fact that there is space on the grass between the people who venture onto it makes it a relaxing space. You don’t want lawn areas heavily populated as it negates their value. The lawn’s current expansiveness allows children to run freely after a swim in the pool, get some cool fresh air after being in the heavy warm chlorinated atmosphere of the pool, or to dry out and to bask in the sun in a safe, unobserved environment (surrounded by bushy and tall vegetation of trees and gardens) that they may not have at home due to the lack of back yard space. It provides training of fitness and agility, and offers opportunities to gain Vitamin D from the sun for bone health. The garden offers privacy to the pool patrons which will be lost by the open aspect of the bus bay. By making the pool lawn and garden smaller it will change the quality of the space, which is as important as its quantity - it will appear more cramped and this feeling less relaxing, thus defeating its overall purpose.

If the leisure centre management was more imaginative and interested in the health of their patrons they would offer regular boot-camp style classes on the pool lawn in their weekly time-table. The pool lawn is an under-utilised resource for the staff of the leisure centre who could provide so much more value to its patrons than they currently do, by offering outdoor running and circuit groups that would be so much healthier and enjoyable, in the sun and fresh air, than those currently all offered indoors.

Occasionally the pool lawn is used for outdoor holiday activities, that include running and games, and outdoor cinema showings. Will these activities be lost for the local community if the pool lawn area is significantly reduced?

Fumes from the buses will be closer to the open doors of the pool than they currently are, and more likely to enter the pool building. I'm not sure that pool patrons will be happy about this, especially in the light of the fact that the air in the pool area itself can already be heavy with chlorine.

In the proposed map there is no provision for the existing recessed public bus stop on Cambridge St (Stop ID 222222), but on the map it states it is “to be modified in discussion with RMS and Traffic for NSW”. Plans indicate that no recess will exist for the bus stop, which means there will probably be obstruction of traffic flow when the public bus stops here in the line of the road, and increased congestion along Cambridge St near the busy intersection with Forest Rd. This will be compounded by the existing bus stop that is located directly across the road. If buses drop down on both sides of the road at the same time, no traffic will be able to pass either way. This will represent a significant problem and probably add new and possibly greater safety issues in light of the increased volume of traffic that will be generated by the leisure centre expansion, and increased use of the proposed “sporting hub”, St George Football Association (SGFA) offices and youth centre on Penshurst Park.

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 2 / 7

Site Plan - Demolition Record

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 3 / 7

Site Plan - Proposed Record

In the Landscape Plan map, the parking of buses over a lawn space is entirely inappropriate. Buses do have the capability of moving! Once the buses have dropped off children or visitors they can easily be driven to another location off site. The buses could move to other streets in Penshurst, where there is more parking available, and then be called when they need to pick up the passengers for their return journey. I'm sure these buses have communication devices to enable this flexibility of parking location and pick up times. Please encourage other areas of Penshurst to support this expansion of the HALC facilities, rather than Cambridge St, Percival St and the park itself taking the major burden of this responsibility.

Therefore, these plans are rejected, and it is recommended that the current public bus stop be used for the HALC / Penshurst Park drop-offs and pick-ups. It could be slightly recessed towards the HALC by another metre, to protect alighting and boarding passengers from Cambridge St traffic. This adjustment to the public bus stop would be far less intrusive on the pool lawn that the plans for DA2017/0354. Road speeds at this section of Cambridge St could be reduced to 40 km / hr for 24 hours of the day, speed bumps could be installed, or the public bus bay could be moved further along Cambridge St away from its intersection with Forest Rd, to improve safety of this part of the plans.

A further suggestion is to develop the infrastructure and encourage local schools and clubs to take up cycling school buses to move children (and perhaps even adults) to and from activities at the park, similar to the innovations already being used in Holland and France. This may take significant adjustments to local culture for it to be safely implemented, but could be a future consideration. https://www.bicycling.com/news/france-bike-bus

The triangular area of the car park labelled as Note."18" on the front page of the “138787 LandscapePlan_Part1” (record-2025942) seems to be an inefficient use of space. From reading the trafficdocument.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 4 / 7

management documents, it appears that this has become a turning circle for garbage trucks. It seems illogical to have such a large amount of space being unused for most of the day, when other areas of hourly use (eg. the pool lawn and playground ) are crammed into similarly sized or smaller spaces elsewhere. Would it be possible to move this garbage bay element of the plan to another location, or in a different alignment such as parallel to King Georges Rd? This may free up some of the space on the park and in the main car park, to allow more space for the pool lawn and garden and the children's playground at the other end of Penshurst Park.

Surely buses can drop off at a less disruptive point, and can park elsewhere. Buses can move off the premises, they do not need to remain on the leisure centre land. They have less need of the pool lawn than the patrons of the pool do. Therefore the aspects of Penshurst Park’s DA Stages 2 & 3 that cover natural grass with pavement, parking spaces and buildings (in particular on the leisure centre’s pool lawn) ideally need to be redesigned before assessment or approval.

Other public bus services have recently been cut around the leisure centre. If these had been retained there may not have been the reliance on this bus bay to provide services to the leisure centre. To enable the Penshurst Park plan to work, these public services need to be revised, or perhaps the council needs to realise that it’s project cannot be supported adequately by existing infrastructure, and thus should be abandoned or modified accordingly.

The 31 car parks that will be gained will rely on the removal of at least 9 existing car spaces, so the real total increase of only 22 car spaces does not seem significant in light of the overall magnitude of this project.

Rewilding is becoming important tool in the preservation and support of our endangered Australian wildlife. The National Parks Association of NSW promote this strategy, such as bringing native pollinators back to urban green space, and we need councils to support this initiative by retaining as much natural garden space as possible. It is proposed that rewilding can deliver social and economic benefits to urban areas, as well as positive ecological change. https://npansw.org/what-we-do/our-work/campaigns/rewilding/

It is crucial for our local and global liveability that Georges River does its part in ensuring that, as the population increases, the available open space also increases to service it. This may in fact mean not only maintaining the current open spaces, but also acquiring land to provide more open spaces within the recommended 200m of high-density residential areas and 400m of all residences as guided by the Greater Sydney draft plans (Draft South District Plan, p96, Planning Priority S16, Delivering High Quality Open Space, Action 68b). The Green Grid is another strategy that the council is being called upon to find solutions to practically honour. I would be interested to know how Georges River Council plans to achieve these recommendations and goals if they continue to allow their public lawns and gardens to be diminished for car parking and bus bays.

It is notable that the Queensland Greenspace Strategy 2011-2020 of the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Foundation (p9 - see references below) recommends that “Where greenspace is unavoidably affected by essential development or infrastructure, additional greenspace is to be secured to offset the loss.” I recommend that Georges River Council should seriously apply this guiding principle in our own district, and if Penshurst Park loses most of its natural green space, that the GRC should then acquire equivalently-sized or even more available land, in particular near high-density dwelling, for rehabilitation into green community spaces. If pool lawn and garden space is lost, then where does the council propose to replace it elsewhere?

Please think not only about the small sub-segment of the community who may play, watch or support sport or athletics, but ALL of the community who ALL need fresh air and natural green spaces to survive and thrive.

Injuries may or may not occur. Although they can have significant repercussions, they are usually isolated incidents. Risk assessment procedures assist us in making informed decisions to weigh up the extent and the likelihood of injury. How severe could the injury be, and how likely is it? However the importance of natural green spaces for the ongoing long-term health of all our community as a significant need of similar impact must be equally evaluated.

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 5 / 7

It has been difficult to inform the community through usual avenues such as handing out flyers, putting up posters or talking directly to pool patrons, so not many people know about the implications for the pool lawn. We want to raise awareness so that people can have their say if they wish, and contribute if they are opposed by signing a petition. This is particularly important and urgent considering the impending Sydney South Planning Panel meeting which is likely to occur in coming months to make the final decision on the fate of Penshurst Park. A date for the SSPP meeting has not yet been determined or announced, but updates can be found at the following links;http://tinyurl.com/yd343ldmhttps://www.change.org/p/preserve-our-natural-green-space-and-backyard-on-penshurst-parkhttps://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/

References;

Greater Sydney Commission Draft South District Planhttps://www.greater.sydney/future-south-district > Draft South District Plan

The Green GridBarbara Schaffer (Principal Landscape Architect, NSW Government Architect’s Office) explains the need for this green investment in the face of urban growth.http://architecturebulletin.com.au/winter-2015/the-green-grid/World Health Organisation - Urban green spaces http://www.who.int/sustainable-development/cities/health-risks/urban-green-space/en/“Green spaces such as parks and sports fields as well as woods and natural meadows, wetlands or other ecosystems, represent a fundamental component of any urban ecosystem. Green urban areas facilitate physical activity and relaxation, and form a refuge from noise. Trees produce oxygen, and help filter out harmful air pollution, including airborne particulate matter. Water spots, from lakes to rivers and fountains, moderate temperatures.”

“Urban parks and gardens play a critical role in cooling cities, and also provide safe routes for walking and cycling for transport purposes as well as sites for physical activity, social interaction and for recreation. Recent estimates show that physical inactivity, linked to poor walkability and lack of access to recreational areas, accounts for 3.3% of global deaths.”

“Green spaces also are important to mental health. Having access to green spaces can reduce health inequalities, improve well-being, and aid in treatment of mental illness. Some analysis suggests that physical activity in a natural environment can help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators.”

Urban planning and the importance of green space in cities to human and environmental health http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/urban-planning-and-the-importance-of-green-space-in-cities-to-human-and-environmental-health“Cities are comprised of more than just buildings and people. The most “liveable” cities – and some of the world's most famous cities – are as known for their open space as they are for their culture. Hyde Park in London, Central Park in New York, the Bukit Timah Nature Preserve in Singapore, Phoenix Park in Dublin..”

Greenspace definition - what is greenspace?http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/definition.aspx“What is greenspace? Greenspaces are the 'green lungs' of our towns and cities which contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by providing places for informal recreation - walking, cycling, sitting, socialising and children's play - and 'breathing spaces' to take time out from the

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 6 / 7

stresses of modern life.”

Environmental Benefits of Green Spacehttp://projectevergreen.org/resources/environmental-benefits-of-green-space/“Green spaces are a great benefit to our environment. They filter pollutants and dust from the air, they provide shade and lower temperatures in urban areas, and they even reduce erosion of soil into our waterways. These are just a few of the environmental benefits that green spaces provide.”

Planning for green open space in urbanising landscapeshttps://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/25570c73-a276-4efb-82f4-16f802320e62/files/planning-green-open-space-report.pdf

document.docx Comments on the proposed reduction of the pool lawn and garden of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre to provide a bus bay and car parking as part of Stage 3 of the Penshurst Park Masterplan DA 2017/0354. Kathryn Skelsey - Spokesperson for “Save Our Parks, Trees and Wildlife”0409-912-248 k.skelsey@bigpond.com https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurParksTreesAndWildlife/ https://penshurstpark.wordpress.com/Penshurst Park Development Plan Discussions : https://www.facebook.com/groups/637707403052289/ Page 7 / 7