A BATHURST councillor has slammed his colleagues' decision to effectively lock out two community groups who have played an active role in developing concept plans for a redeveloped Alec Lamberton Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Bathurst Regional Council adopted a design plan for Alec Lamberton Park at its last ordinary meeting, it also adopted a recommended management model that says it should "not be provided to one specific club for use as a home ground facility, nor have any lease arrangement provided to just one group".
Cr Jess Jennings argued strongly against that inclusion, saying it was foolish for council to be ruling in or ruing out any particular management plan even before work had begun on the redevelopment, but was defeated when the motion was put to the vote.
Cr Jennings later told the Western Advocate that the decision made neither economic nor business sense, and that he felt for the Panorama Football Club and White Rock Progress Association that had both contributed strongly to the development of the design plan.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
He said council could have benefited greatly from continuing to partner with both groups, particularly when it came to seeking government grants to fund the work.
"Council is often in a situation where the community is not organised or proactive in these areas and council has to do everything from step one but here we have two community groups falling over each other to work together and partner with council but we have ruled that out as an option before we've even got to the starting line," Cr Jennings said.
"We don't how this is going to be funded but there is likely to be a state government community grant component and here we have two groups who could put together 1000, maybe 1500, signatures in support of that bid.
"It doesn't make economic or business sense. The state and federal governments love projects that can demonstrate community support."
Cr Jennings said the Proctor Park football complex was already overused and extra space was needed.
"You also have to take into account the nature of the site [at Alec Lamberton]," he said.
"It's not a highly prized site, it's in an industrial area on the fringe of town.
"If it was along Hereford Street I would accept it shouldn't go to one club or one sport but nobody has really been lobbying for that land except these two groups.
"Now there is a concept plan on the table there might be some more interest but where have those other groups been over the last five years?"