The Cringila community is up in arms over the proposed sale of this block on the corner of Gorrell Street and Lakeview Parade. Photo: Louis Parnis.
The sale of a block of land in Cringila has been quietly approved by Wollongong City Council and the local community is outraged.
The 500 sqm site on the northwest corner of Gorrell Street and Lakeview Parade in Cringila is zoned R2 Low Density Residential.
Although it has never been classified as a park by the council, the Cringila community has used it as one since it was purchased from a private owner by the council in 1986.
It was initially intended to be the site of a community centre, however the Cringila Community Centre and Hall was later constructed on another site separated from the vacant block by a private property and Gorrell Street.
Wollongong City Council has approved a motion to sell the block.
The motion said the land was surplus to the council’s requirements and the sale of the site would release council from maintenance costs and liabilities.
The motion was carried unanimously, without debate.
Cringila residents and regulars say the pocket of open space with tree cover is an essential part of the streetscape on the main drag.
It’s easily accessible to mums with strollers and the elderly and offers a relaxing place to have a cup of coffee while waiting for a prescription to be filled at the chemist or for workers to take a short break.
President of Cringila’s George Cross Falcons Club, also known as the Maltese Club, Louis Parnis said the community wasn’t interested in whether the land was officially designated as a park.
“If it looks like an egg, it’s an egg,” he said.
“I was introduced to Cringila in 1978 and I’d always accepted that corner was a park.
“The council has put a table and concrete there; if it’s not a designated park that should have been made clear to the community.
“We’re not questioning what it is or what their rights are, we are saying Cringila has given a lot to the Illawarra.
“We’re a multicultural area, we welcome everybody and the community is trying to rebuild itself, to create shops, to fix things up and make the main artery Lake Avenue a welcoming space.
“To remove this pocket of land with trees and replacing it with a house or a high-rise it’s not going to help Cringila.”
The motion accepted by Wollongong City Council said the site was a short distance from two other parks – a six-minute walk from John Crehan Park and a 13-minute walk to Cringila Hill Playground.
Both of those sites are zoned RE1 for public recreation.
Despite their proximity, Louis said neither of those sites provided the same amenity as the block on Gorrell Street.
“John Crehan Park belongs to the soccer club and is kept locked,” he said.
“You’re not going to walk 13 minutes uphill to find a nice place to drink your coffee while you run errands.
“I don’t think it’s been thought through; I think somebody has jumped the gun.
“We’ve had this space since 1929 – leave it alone.”
As the site was not designated as community land, the community were not consulted about the sale.
Divisions of the council including environment, planning, heritage, community development and sport and recreation were consulted about the sale.
No department had any objections.
In the wake of the motion’s approval a petition has begun to circulate online opposing the sale of the park.
Louis believes the petition is just the beginning of a community campaign against the sale.
“There will be rallies, just watch this space,” he said.
