Leichhardt Park

The Hon. TONY KELLY: Earlier Ms Sylvia Hale asked me a question about Leichhardt Park. I have further updates. I would particularly like to enlighten the House on the background of this particular matter and Leichhardt Municipal Council. The background to the matter goes back to the early 1990s, when the former APIA Leichhardt football club occupied the building now occupied by Le Montage function centre. Leichhardt council gave consent to the APIA club, and the club undertook the following works without the input of the Department of Lands. It constructed an addition to the building of an entry foyer on the reserve, thereby creating an encroachment on the reserve; denied access to Fraser Street to the building, which created a situation that only unauthorised access could be gained to the site using a road within the reserve; and allowed the expansion of a former car park and entry to the building over the reserve.

The Department of Lands recently took over the management of part of Leichhardt Park that adjoins Le Montage function centre. Over the years, Leichhardt council has allowed Le Montage and its predecessor, the APIA Soccer Club, to encroach onto Leichhardt Park. Council has also insisted that vehicular access to the function centre be via a Crown reserve. We have an unofficial road and encroachments on a reserve that could potentially expose council ratepayers and New South Wales taxpayers to liability. A plan of management for Leichhardt Park was adopted in July 2005, which addressed these anomalies.

In March 2006 I advised the then mayor, Councillor Nick Dyer, that the proposed leasing arrangements would be managed by the Department of Lands and that the land that council has named Mali-yawal Street could be retained as part of Leichhardt Park rather than council being required to purchase it as a public road. I expected council to amend the plan of management to reflect these decisions and to progress the proposed sale to Le Montage. Despite a number of requests to finalise the plan, no documentation has been forthcoming. I have now reviewed the situation and directed the department to finalise the lease and sale negotiations as a matter of priority. To facilitate these negotiations, the affected part of Leichhardt Park has now been placed under the control and management of the Lands Administration Ministerial Corporation. Council will be consulted as part of these negotiations, and I will meet with council shortly.

The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I suggest if members have further questions they place them on notice.

Questions without notice concluded.