North Sydney wants government to return power over Crown Lands.
North Sydney Council is worried that the State Government will enter into a ‘secret deal’ with Cammeray Golf Club to lease Cammeray Reserve.
Council has written to the government and asked for its powers back so it can determine any proposed lease for the site. The Council’s current lease with the golf club ends in May 2026.
While Cremorne Reserve is owned by the Crown, the Council has traditionally had ‘care and control’ over the land, which covers 12 hectares.
When the government purchased the land for the Warringah Freeway and Western Harbour Tunnel projects, it removed Council’s powers as Crown Land manager. As part of the consent conditions for the projects, a ‘reconfigured’ golf course is being built in another part of Cammeray Reserve.
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said 1.5 hectares had already been lost to the freeway construction, and existing green space did not meet the needs of existing and future populations.
In a motion to the Council, Cr Baker asked the government to return Council’s ‘care and control’ power over the reserve.
“This State Government has not only ripped out our heart, as they ripped out every tree along that freeway and in those parks.
“They ripped that care and community away from us as they acquired that land for construction,” she said at the January meeting.
Cr Baker said the Minister for Lands and Water had advised Council it had started negotiating a ‘long-term lease’ with the club over its clubhouse and parking area, but no application had been made for the land leased by Council.
“I worry that there will be a secret deal done with the golf club or any other third party without consulting the community,” she said. “That will not happen if Council had care and control.”
At the time of writing, North Sydney Council had not received a response to its letter.