This Petition by Residents and Ratepayers within Randwick City Council brings to the attention of Council the Development Application DA/87/2015 for Alterations and Additions to the former Kensington Bowling Club Building.

This Development Application has failed to include the requests and needs of the wider community and does not comply with Planning Frameworks of Randwick Council. Specifically:

1.     The submitted plans have not been subject to community consultation;

2.     The investment of over $4million of ratepayer funds on this project is excessive given the lack of return to the community;

3.     No comprehensive Plan of Management has been submitted for Kensington Park yet major works are being undertaken which is against the Randwick District Parks Generic Plan of Management;

4.     No organised recreation is included in the DA despite District Parks being the home of organised Sporting Activity;

5.     The DA removes 5-aside football facilities, a valuable resource for the community, and is replacing it with a car park despite the DA Traffic Report stating that there is sufficient street parking for both the current use of 5-a-side and the proposed Community Centre. We do not support unnecessary parking within District Parks at the expense of existing sporting facilities.

We the signatories support the use of part of the building as a Community Centre however we do not believe that two meeting rooms are needed (this is also supported by the Council consultant in the Statement of Environmental Effects). The second room would be better used as changing and supplementary facilities to the 5-a-side sports fields and other organised sport.

We also ask that plans for a fenced off-leash exercise area for dogs be included given the benefit of companion animals and the support that this has in the community.

We support this petition and the alternative plan provided with it as a starting point for proper community consultation.