Kogarah Council Open Space Review Prepared by Kogarah Council Version 1.0 July 2014 April 2014 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1. Introduction 3 Planning and providing for open space across Overview of open space in Kogarah the City of Kogarah is an important part of Council’s responsibilities. Kogarah Council Overview of relevant land use zones recognises the continued importance of land zoned for open space and natural 2. Planning Policy and Context 7 environment uses in the City of Kogarah State Government Planning Context and recommends these areas be maintained and protected in suitable zones where Local Planning Context possible and identifies further areas to be formally acknowledged under recreation, 3. Analysis of sites and issues 15 environmental protection and waterway zones. Specific Sites Key Issues Kogarah City currently has 178 hectares of land zoned for recreation zones (not 4. Recommendations 18 including waterways).The majority of these areas will remain unchanged. Some specific sites are proposed to be rezoned based on a land use audit. This strategy proposes an overall increase of about 1.1 ha of land. This review aims to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of land for recreation and conservation purposes in conjunction with expected housing demand over the next 30 years suited to meet the needs of our community. 2 3 Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council Overview of Open Space Land in Overview of relevant land use zones Map 1. Provision of open space in Kogarah Kogarah City Open space and recreational land in the City (As defined under the default standards for open space planning in NSW inRecreation and Open Kogarah has approximately 178 hectares of its of Kogarah as shown in Map 2 is identified Space Planning Guidelines for Local Government - Department of Planning) local government area (approximately 15% of under two zones in the current Kogarah Local the total LGA) zoned as open space. Of this, Environmental Plan 2012 (hereafter referred 71 hectares are natural bushland areas, 64 to as ‘KLEP’). These zones are outlined below: hectares are sports fields, while the remainder is landscaped, open space. Kogarah’s indoor Open Space Zoned Land - Public and and outdoor facilities are vital to supporting Private the community needs of a growing population and pressures from medium and high density Areas of open space are currently zoned living. Kogarah City is facing increasing either RE1 Public Recreation or RE2 Private pressures in catering for the open space and Recreation under the KLEP, generally reflecting recreation demands of the community, due the ownership of the open space. to a combination of current and expected population growth occurring across the Sydney There are approximately 178 hectares of land metropolitan region and LGA, and increasing zoned RE1 Public Recreation and 1.4 hectares interest in recreation and a variety of activities of RE2 Private Recreation in Kogarah City. especially for health and well being benefits. There are limited opportunities to significantly W2 Recreational Waterways increase the amount of open space in the City of Kogarah. The solution for providing passive The Waterways zone applies to the area and active open space for an increasing and between the Kogarah Local Government changing population therefore relies primarily Area boundary (along the Georges River) and on strategies to increase the diversity, quality generally the mean high water mark. The total and accessibility of existing open space. area of zone W2 is approximately 396 hectares or 20.34% of the LGA. The waterways will be Open space is generally categorised by its size the subject of a future review and does not and function; categories include parks (local, form part of this review of open space. district and regional parks), sportsgrounds, general community use and natural areas. A large proportion of the open space in Kogarah is located in large parks, bushland and foreshore areas including Carss Bush Park, Moore Reserve and Poulton Park. Map 1 graphically represents the provision of Legend open space in City of Kogarah. Local level Parks 400m buffer Council is currently preparing a review of its cycleways as part of a regional initiative Regional level Parks 2km buffer to connect cycle paths within the St George Region. District level Parks 4 5 Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council 2. Planning Policy & Context Policies, plans and strategies of all levels of • Establish a local infrastructure renewal government reflect community aspirations scheme that will provide interest subsidies Map 2. Land zoned for open space in Kogarah. and expectaions representing an important to local councils to assist in unlocking context to open space and recreation resources for councils to upgrade planning. urban and economic infrastructure for roads, community halls, libraries, parks, sportsgrounds and water infrastructure State Government Planning • Regenerate degraded natural bushland Context through a $10 million fund • Purchase and protect strategic areas of A number of NSW Government policies high conservation value and ensure more support the planning, provision and green spaces across Sydney and NSW management of open space and recreation. through the $40 million Green Corridor Program NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW • Increase the number of volunteer-based Number One (NSW Government) groups undertaking bush regeneration projects • Develop and implement a NSW The NSW State Plan sets the direction for Volunteering Strategy the State for the next ten years. Setting a list • Develop a NSW Stadium Strategy guiding of priorities, targets and actions, NSW 2021 government investment in facilities with desires to strengthen local environments the aim to deliver improved community and communities by protecting the natural access and cater for multi-purpose usage environnment and building a strong sense of community. The targets should guide the • Develop partnerships to enhance the development of goals and objectives in both participation of people with a disability or regional and local open space planning. those from disadvantaged backgrounds, through access to sport and recreation Key priority targets/actions from NSW2021 facilities and programs most relevant to open space planning: • Allocate $47 million over four years • Develop and implement a NSW Walking towards community infrastructure projects Strategy to encourage and promote to increase participation in sport and walking for travel and recreation, and to recreation activities enhance walking environments in NSW • Make NSW an event destination - • Develop a recreation and respite Destination NSW will market NSW and framework to provide a broad range of promote the state through an annual recreation and leisure-based options, program of events including through mainstream services • Increase opportunities for children and • Conduct a council-by-council audit of the young people to connect with other local infrastructure backlog, so there is groups in their communities through sport better information on where investment is • Build supportive connections between needed community members using sport, 6 7 Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council Open Space Review 2014 - Kogarah Council recreation and cultural activities, events, Actions State Planning Policies environmental impact as exempt or complying facilities and venues 23.1 Identify and map Sydney’s high development or as permissible without consent. The SEPP provisions override LEP • Increase opportunities for people to conservation lands Relevant state policies for Kogarah City provisions where it streamlines infrastructure participate in local community events, 23.2 Identify priority green corridors include: development. activities and decision making 23.3 Improve understanding of the distribution of nonthreatened native fauna across the • Enable connected communities by State Environmental Planning Policy Sydney Metropolitan Area to detect long-term including community facilities in urban (SEPP) No. 19 - Bushland in Urban Areas Georges River Regional Environmental design and planning processes, so they are changes in population status or viability. Plan (REP) planned from the beginning. SEPP 19 aims to protect and preserve bushland within urban areas, as part of the natural The Georges River Regional Environmental Recreation and Open Space Planning heritage or for recreational, educational and Plan (now a deemed SEPP) applies to land Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Guidelines for Local Government scientific purposes. The SEPP requires that within Kogarah that is part of the Georges Sydney 2031 (Department of Planning and Council shall have regard to the aims and River Catchment. The plan aims to protect Infrastructure) objectives of this Policy and give priority to the water quality of the Georges River and its In March 2013, the NSW Government retaining bushland when preparing LEPs. tributaries and the environmental quality of the released its draft Metropolitan strategy for The Guidelines act as a resource for local whole catchment. The objectives of the plan 2031 for comment. The draft Strategy sets the councils to develop their own recreation and are to be achieved through coordinated land framework for Sydney’s growth and prosperity open space policies to meet community needs State Environmental Planning Policy No. use planning and development control. Planning to 2031 and supports the key goals,