Historic Callan Park Masterplan handover
by Port Jackson Greens • November 15, 2011 • Callan Park, Feature, Planning & Development
The long fight to save Callan Park and Rozelle Mental Hospital took an historic turn today, with Leichhardt Council and the Friends of Callan Park formally presenting the Callan Park Master Plan to the Minister for Planning, Brad Hazzard MP.
Callan Park is the third largest open space in Sydney and all 60 hectares is listed on the State Heritage Register.
Mayor of Leichhardt Cr Rochelle Porteous said that anyone who visited Callan Park cannot help but be struck by its beauty and its extraordinary location on Iron Cove and Sydney Harbour.
“This beautiful Park belongs to the people because it has been saved – on many occasions – by the people,” she said.
Council recognised the urgent need for a strategic Master Plan to guide the care and control of the Park as a single entity following efforts by the Previous State Government to carve Callan Park into separate leases – including 40 hectares to be managed by Leichhardt Council.
“As the then Government was not prepared to fund development of the Master Plan, Council took on the responsibility,” said Cr Porteous
“Following 18 months of community consultation and preparation the Plan was formally presented to the State Government today.”
The Master Plan has been built around the aims of the Callan Park Act: protecting open space and heritage, providing space for recreation, and developing health, community and education facilities.
Preparation included a comprehensive community engagement process in which over 2000 people took part through a series of workshops, drop in events and a dedicated interactive website.
That consultation showed overwhelming support for Callan Park to remain a single site, and for a Trust to govern the Site, which the Plan recommends through the establishment of the Callan Park and Broughton Hall Trust.
There was strong community support for a continued Mental Health role for Callan Park. Mental Health users are key to the Master Plan, included in on site projects such as cafes and community gardens, with a recommendation for a minimum of 30% of on site employment to be filled by mental health consumers.
Sport and recreation space also features, with plans for the development of three sporting fields, a skate park and a city farm with public access.
“The fight to save Callan Park from developers is a proud history of the long collaboration between the Friends of Callan Park and Leichhardt Council,” said Cr Porteous.
“I am extremely proud to have been able to present this Plan, and thank the Friends of Callan Park and former Mayor and now Balmain MP Jamie Parker for their work in bringing it to fruition.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the State Government to ensure the Master Plan is adopted and to then enable its staged implementation through the Trust.”
The Greens will continue to put pressure on the government to adopt the Master Plan so that the Callan Park and Broughton Hall Trust can be established to govern the site.
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