There is at present a very alarming development proposal to relocate a private golf course to public land at Barton Park near Arncliffe. If it goes ahead this development will be very detrimental to important remnant wetland areas in the Cooks River Valley. Submissions to oppose the development close on February 10, so urgent action is needed.
Landing Lights Wetland
At present Kogarah Golf Club occupy a site closer to the airport between the M5 and Marsh Street. They propose to vacate that land for a high rise housing development and move south to a large area of public green space. Their proposed new site contains the important Landing Lights Wetland and other wetland areas between Spring Street and Eve Street. Other sections contain cycleways, sporting fields, remnant bushland, and the old St George Football Stadium (closed for many years).
White Headed Stilts
Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper
Black-Fronted Dotterel
Royal Spoonbill
Pelican
White Faced Herons
Terns
Terns
Welcome Swallow
White Faced Herons
The Development Proposal intends to retain the Landing Lights Wetland and provide one access path to a viewing platform. But it will be surrounded by the golf course, and to access the viewing platform you may need to sign in at the clubhouse. At present the wetland has access on all sides – important to view and photograph the migratory birds that come and go at different times of the year. As well the hinterland to the Landing Lights Wetland provides habitat to many other species of bird – honeyeaters, finches, cisticolas, kingfishers, silvereyes, willie wagtails and wrens. These bird’s bush cover will be removed in the proposal.
New Holland Honeyeater
Sacred Kingfisher
Red-browed Finch
Silvereye
Silvereye
Superb Fairy Wren
Golden-Headed Cisticola
A raptor flying over Landing Lights Wetland
The neighbouring wetlands – in mangrove areas between Spring Street and Eve Street will be filled in and converted to greens and fairways.
Spring Street Wetlands
Eve Street Wetlands
Eve Street Wetlands
At present a cycleway runs through the area. This is part of the cycleway that connects the Cooks River Cycleway from Tempe to the Botany Bay Cycleway. It is a very well used bike route. The proposed development proposes to relocate the cycleway to along the bank of the Cooks River and then it would cross Muddy Creek on a new bridge close to where Muddy Creek joins the Cooks River. This would be a positive step for cyclists, and it would cut out a bad section where the cycleway uses a narrow footpath along Marsh Street.
In the region that contains Barton Park there are plenty of golf courses, but precious little green space. It will be a shame if it is lost! Please make a submission or send an email opposing the development to the Bayside Council. See the Save Barton Park Website or Facebook Page for more information and to get involved.
Update – 7 September 2017 – You can read some background information on the issues involved in this article in Central News from UTS.