A parcel of green space Sydney residents had applied for inclusion in Wolli Creek Regional Park has been controversially sold for $2.93 million for housing development.
Local campaigners say the NSW Labor government quietly auctioned two key blocks of land under Wolli Bluff in Earlwood, despite previous support for its protection and strong community backing.
The bluff, a prominent sandstone outcrop marking the entrance to Wolli Creek Regional Park, is perched above Bayview Avenue, Earlwood, and has historic associations with the Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy.
The vacant site, which is partly contaminated with asbestos and lead, was owned by the state government, and has been the subject of four-decades-long campaign by the Wolli Creek Preservation Society (WCPS) for the ‘bluff blocks’ to be annexed to the park under its Unwin Green Street plan to connect the Wolli Creek and Cooks River valleys with continuous green space.
“We’ve been doing this for 40 years. Our campaign goes on,” said WCPS president Chris Jordens, who criticised the sale, saying the government had publicly supported the Green Street vision.
“They make a lot of supportive noises, lots of supportive statements and they’re on record for supporting the Green Street idea. This is why we’re really surprised.
“The people of the valley… saved the bluff from a freeway… we saved the bluff from Sydney Water, but we haven’t been able to save it from the NSW Labor Party.”
The site at Wolli Bluffs that the government has sold for $2.9 million. Photo: Catherine Fletcher.
In February the WCPS learned the bluff blocks were listed for auction without consultation. Members campaigned to stop the sale and attended the off-site auction on April 2, warning bidders of strong community opposition.
Critics argue the block, which could potentially be developed into as many as three residences, will do little to alleviate housing pressure and instead threatens a vital piece of green space.
Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Conroy Blood, an advocate for the Green Street project, said: “Development means this bluff will be hidden from public view. It would also be a convenient and accessible entrance point for the Wolli Creek reserve. Also the land only really has space for one house.
“I am highly disappointed in the state governments decision to sell this green space especially given their previous representations which suggested they valued this green space, but unfortunately given Canterbury is a very safe Labor seat, promises are very easy to break.”
Residents wanted the land parcel added to the regional park. Photo: Catherine Fletcher.
In a letter to campaigners, the office for Minister for Lands and Property, Stephen Kamper, said the land had been earmarked for residential development despite protests.
“While I acknowledge the community’s interest in incorporating this land into Wolli Creek Regional Park, this land has not been identified for public open space and will be divested for residential development,” a spokesperson for Kamper’s office said.
Kamper faced questioning at the parliamentary budget estimates hearing on February 26 over the audit of government-owned land for housing suitability. In response to supplementary questions from Hon Chris Rath MLC, Kamper said surplus sites were chosen based on housing potential, including maximising dwelling yield.
Wolli Bluff stands on unceded Bidjigal land linked to Aboriginal warrior and resistance leader Pemulwuy, who fought against British settlers.
Mr Jordens added: “This has always been a place of resistance, and so it is today. The authorities, you’d think, would be used to it by now.”
Main image by Catherine Fletcher.
