Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea claims sporting fields in the Ku-ring-gai Council area are potentially under threat after the State Government failed to support a motion in NSW Parliament yesterday to secure their future.
“The motion called on the Government to ensure that all existing ovals in the Ku-ring-gai Council area are maintained as recreational facilities, including for sporting activity. Surprisingly, the Government voted against it!” Mr O’Dea said.
Mr O’Dea said the motion was clear and simple and followed recent threats to the sporting oval at the UTS Lindfield site. The oval was only saved because Council waived $11 to $12 million in section 94 levies for development on the rest of the UTS Lindfield site.
“The Government’s response has left grave doubts about its intentions regarding sporting facilities in Ku-ring-gai.
“Does the Government have a secret agenda to sell off any sporting ovals - including those owned by schools? If not, why didn’t the Government support my motion to protect the future of the ovals?” Mr O’Dea asked.
“These concerns are heightened by the recent Mini Budget to help rescue NSW from almost 14 years of Labor mismanagement. The Mini Budget indicated that $239 million worth of land and school sites, considered surplus to needs, would be sold off over the next three years,” he said.
“So where does this leave the precious sporting fields of Ku-ring-gai?”
“It’s time this Labor Government came clean and told local residents of any hidden agenda – or guarantee the future of sporting ovals in Ku-ring-gai – including those owned by local public schools,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
