Mason Park Plan of Management
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MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT JUNE 2008 Sainty and Associates STRATHFIELD COUNCIL MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT JUNE 2008 POD Landscape Architecture Parkland Environmental Planners ABN: 93 107 367 724 192 Barcom Avenue ABN: 33 114 513 647 DARLINGHURST NSW 2010 PO Box 41 tel: (02) 9360 0188 HARBORD NSW 2096 mob: 0410 145 034 tel: (02) 9938 1925 fax: (02) 9331 3655 mob: 0411 191 866 [email protected] fax: (02) 9981 7001 [email protected] Sainty and Associates Avifauna Research and Services ABN: 27 320 366 545 ABN: 34 121 131 708 PO Box 1219 PO Box 2006 POTTS POINT NSW 1335 ROCKDALE DELIVERY CENTRE NSW 2216 tel: (02) 9332 2661 tel: (02) 9597 7765 fax: (02) 9331 5372 mob: 0411 249 075 [email protected] [email protected] This plan was adopted at the meeting of Strathfield Council on May 6 2008 following minor amendments to the draft Plan of Management and following Council’s resolution 84/08. MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT Executive Summary Introduction This Plan of Management has been prepared to guide Strathfield Council, as owner of community land and Trust Manager of Crown land, in the future management of Mason Park. This Plan of Management satisfies the requirements for content and process in preparing a Plan of Management under the Crown Lands Act 1989 and Local Government Act 1993. Review of the previous Plan of Management This Plan of Management reviews, updates and replaces the previous Plan of Management for Mason Park that was prepared in 2000. Preparation of this Plan of Management involved consultation with stakeholders (government, user groups, and residents). The Draft Plan of Management will be placed on public exhibition for community comment in early 2008. This Plan of Management does not recommend any significant changes in permitted uses or management direction. However, it does recommend management actions aimed at meeting current demands of park users, and highlighting the Park’s local and district significance. Significance Mason Park is significant because it: includes an internationally and locally significant saltmarsh. is a valuable habitat for local and migratory bird species, and is subject to the provisions of treaties with Japan and China. Some birds fly from as far as China, Japan, Siberia and Alaska to arrive at Mason Park Wetland during spring and summer. is listed on the Register of the National Estate (wetland). links with Sydney Olympic Park and Strathfield. includes a sporting field complex. Current status Site Name Mason Park and Mason Park Wetlands Address Underwood Road, Homebush Adjacent Powells Creek stormwater channel, Powells Creek Reserve and residences to the east, landuses Energy Australia sub-station and former Sydney Water sewer pumping station to the south, light industrial / commercial development to the west, Bressington Park and Sydney Olympic Park to the north. Land parcels Community land Metropolitan Water Crown land Sewage & Drainage Board Lot 1 DP176625 Lot 1 DP943418 Lot and DP unknown Lot 1 DP752023 Lot 1 DP129388 PARKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS POD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SAINTY AND ASSOCIATES AVIFAUNA RESEARCH AND SERVICES I MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT Area (ha) 12 hectares Ownership Crown (25%), Strathfield Council (70%) Metropolitan Water Sewage and Drainage Board (5%) Manager Reserve Trust; Strathfield Council Community land Sportsground, Natural Area – Wetland, Community land categorisation Public purpose(s) Public Reserve and Drainage of Crown land Zoning 6(a) Open Space – Recreation Existing Catchment District Physical Sporting fields, wetland, children’s playground, amenities building, carpark, mature characteristics trees. Flora and fauna Wetland – Mangroves, Coastal Saltmarsh communities, Casuarinas etc. comprising park landscaping. Migratory birds, such as Curlew Sandpiper (population in serious decline), Pacific Golden Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Lathams Snipe. Introduced species – foxes. Visual elements A central band of dense vegetation separates the sporting zone from the wetland area. The edges of the park are well vegetated, providing screening to Underwood Road and Bressington Park. The wetland is diverse with views internally to the mangroves, wetlands and mudflats, with abundant birdlife, and glimpses across Powells Creek to the parkland corridor. A large expanse of open grassed fields is contained by dense native planting at the edges of the park. Access Pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle, bus. Vehicle entry off Underwood Road. Pedestrian / cycle linkages to Sydney Olympic Park, Concord West and North Strathfield. Assets and Sporting fields – very good Lighting – very good condition Amenities block / kiosk - good Paths – very good Children’s play equipment – very good Seating - good Carpark – poor Recent changes Reconstruction of the playing fields, involving extensive re-levelling, installation of irrigation, and returfing of the field in 2005. Installation of rainwater tanks in 2006 to assist in catching water from the roof of the amenities block and using it to irrigate the sportsfields Upgrade of the playground in 2000, and addition of a shade sail in 2003-04. Upgrading of sportsfield lighting to meet the Australian standard for sport training (2005). Installation of seating overlooking the sports fields. A new bridge linking Mason Park to Concord West over Powells Creek. Landscaping in the carpark. Existing uses Sport: soccer, cricket, Oztag, school sport Walking, jogging, cycling Informal games, children’s play, birdwatching, nature appreciation, picnics Leases/ licenses/ Seasonal hire agreements with sporting groups. bookings Maintenance Rubbish removal, lawn maintenance, garden and tree maintenance, building maintenance, inspecting play equipment, bush regeneration, wetland monitoring. Income and Income = $33,421.16(2006-07); Expenditure = Working expenses $40,611.26 (2006- expenditure 07); Cost recovery = - 71%(2006-07) additional project costs 2006-07 approx $500,000. Easements Electricity Australia cables, sewer line PARKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS POD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SAINTY AND ASSOCIATES AVIFAUNA RESEARCH AND SERVICES II MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT Basis for Management Mason Park comprises Crown reserves and community land owned by Strathfield Council, so the provisions of the Crown Lands Act 1989 and Local Government Act 1993 apply. Other key relevant legislation includes the Strathfield Planning Scheme Ordinance under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Other legislation such as the Threatened Species Conservation Act, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Companion Animals Act and Disability Discrimination Act apply to management of the Park. The community land is categorised as Sportsground and Natural Area – Wetland, with those categories also being applied to the Crown land for consistent management. The Public Purpose of the Crown land is Community land, Public Recreation and Drainage The local planning framework is governed by Council’s Management Plan, the Strathfield Planning Scheme Ordinance, and various Development Control Plans. Council’s strategic plans such as the Management Plan and the Strathfield Vision 2020, and planning projects for the Powells Creek corridor also influence planning and management of the Park. Community values of the Park are related to: Ecology Environmental awareness Pedestrian and cycle linkages Recreation opportunity Image and visual quality Community involvement The vision for the Park is: Mason Park will be a quality field sporting complex adjacent to an internationally significant and healthy wetland both linked by regional pedestrian and cycle paths to Sydney Olympic Park, Strathfield, and Concord. Mason Park will be a model for ecologically sustainable development and water sensitive urban design practices. The future roles of the park are: “The wetlands park” Natural environment heritage Environmental education in an ‘outdoor classroom’ Destination as part of the Homebush Bay and Powells Creek open space system Field sporting venue for structured recreation Casual recreation Pedestrian and cycle linkages Gateway to Strathfield local government area Visual relief PARKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS POD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SAINTY AND ASSOCIATES AVIFAUNA RESEARCH AND SERVICES III MASON PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT Issues A number of issues were identified through preparation of this Plan of Management: Value Issues Ecology Tidal influence, water quality, monitoring of shorebirds, site contamination, weeds and undesirable plants, rare and restricted saltmarsh species, invertebrates, disturbance of shorebirds and their habitat, mosquitoes, funding of maintenance works. Environmental Education and interpretation, awareness of significant environmental resource awareness Pedestrian / Links to adjoining open space, pedestrian access from Underwood Road, internal cyclist linkages, pedestrian / cyclist conflicts, pedestrian amenity, bridges linkages Recreation Layout of playing fields, quality of the playing field surface, unstructured sporting opportunity activities, commercial use, access and carpark, overflow parking and other uses, shade, lighting, waste disposal, amenities building, playground development, safety of playground, informal recreation facilities Image and Gateway to the park, planting, green links to the Powells Creek corridor, power lines visual quality Community Community involvement involvement Management Strategic partnerships, treaty obligations These issues are addressed in the Action Plan.