So how did the determination meeting go yesterday afternoon? I can’t say we won, but I can’t say we lost either. We were represented by four excellent speakers giving five speeches, some of which were on behalf of others. Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society and Total Environment Centre were amazingly supportive, members of the Hurstville Salvation Army were there, and we had input from local Mums too. We were able to present 193 online petition signatures and comments - thank you to everyone who lent their weight to this - and over 200 handwritten signatures, many of which were gathered by the Tai Chi group who exercise on the park each morning – Therefore over 400 signatures in total!! So all up it was a marvellous team effort, and thank you to everyone who came to lend their support! The Sydney South Planning Panel then posed some tricky questions to the council staff, and it sounded like the panel were taking many of the points we’d made into consideration, but the council were also giving all the standard answers. The panel then adjourned for at least half an hour to consider their decision. Then we were called back in and the announcement made; “Approved”. I was crestfallen. But then the panel outlined all the conditions that they wanted the council to comply with, to ensure that there was fairer access to Penshurst Park by the community, and more consideration of green space and trees. So we DID make a difference! And I think we can continue to do so. Honestly, although I would have loved us to have had enough influence to overturn the DA and keep the park just as it is now, realistically I knew this was unlikely, and I had just hoped we would get a few conditions. Which we did! So in that respect, our campaign was a SUCCESS!! Penshurst Park is going to go through a lot of changes, but there are still things we will be able to give input to. So watch this space. We were told that the official written announcement about the panel’s decision will be made on the planning panels website in about seven days time. I’ll let you know when I see that and pass it on. But in the meantime, I’d just like to say “Well done Team Penshurst Park and thank you ”