Desired outcome: 
To establish a Reserve- RE1 zoning (or a form of Environmental Protection zoning) of ‘St Helens Park – Bradbury green belt’, a parkland utilised heavily by local residents and schools, for its preservation and protection from housing development.

Location:                                                          
The area referred to as ‘St Helens Park – Bradbury green belt’ is located at the boundaries of, and between the suburbs of St Helens Park and Bradbury NSW, in the Campbelltown LGA.

The area runs almost parallel Woodland Road, passes behind Woodland Road Primary School, and meets Akuna Avenue roundabout near the Bradbury water tanks. The area adjoins a small reserve named ‘Flynn Reserve’ (the area east of the school). 
The Google Maps location for Flynn Reserve has incorrectly absorbed the green belt. Council signage along Woodland Road has incorrectly marked the SP2 zone as Flynn Reserve.

Context:
The area zoning is currently SP2 Public Transport Corridor, held by NSW State government. This zoning was originally set in the 1980s for a future road (part of the ‘Georges River Parkway’) which never eventuated. 

The Campbelltown City Council made a move to change the SP2 zoning to Residential for housing in the 2015 LEP. The community rallied and petitioned to counteract this plot. 

The community demonstrated their wish to retain this green space and prevent future housing in this space.

Following the community demonstration, councillors voted all in favour of deferring the matter. The zone is considered a ‘Deferred Matter’ in the Campbelltown local government 2015 LEP.

The community is seeking to protect the area from housing development by removing its pre-existing and redundant SP2 zoning to a more appropriate recreational or conservational zoning.

 

Reasoning to support desired outcome:

1.     The area has been long utilised by residents for recreation.

2.     Locals have known the area as a route for wildlife, including Koala’s, particularly during their spring-time breeding and associated migration.

3.     There is growing community interest in maintaining wildlife corridors.

4.     Green spaces are being constantly lost with urban growth. 

5.     Removal of this area, along-side urban growth will push surrounding green recreation areas to their limit.

6.     Residents have previously supported and will continue to support- to preserve this area as a green space. Residents do not want housing in this space.

7.     The current NSW Premier has committed- “Our focus is building, improving and promoting open space that the communities of NSW use as a part of everyday life. We aim to build spaces that are inclusive, safe, comfortable and enjoyable.
Our programs are focused on delivering 2 important Premier's priorities that will help make NSW a more resilient and liveable place: 

·       provide greater access to quality, green, open and public spaces closer to homes

·       increase the tree canopy by planting 5 million trees by 2030.” – 

[Source - https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/open-space-and-parklands 29 May 2023]