DUE to council's push to develop the best areas of Boomerang Park, the current location of the long awaited playground has, in my opinion, been poorly sited.
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It faces west on sloping ground in close proximity to Irrawang Street and requires the potential removal of "approximately five trees".
The playground should be located where the former masterplan for Boomerang Park indicated: on flat ground along Elizabeth Avenue, where no trees or critical habitat would be lost, away from traffic congestion and with adequate parking.
No trees should be removed in a heritage-listed public park, especially such a significant park as Boomerang Park.
All plantings within the curtilage of the park are protected as per the Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan 2013 and the Boomerang Park Plan of Management (BPPoM).
The council has a responsibility to the public to follow the correct processes and, like the public, be compliant.
If council is allowed to get away with their "overall improvement of this magnificent site", it will render about a sixth of the park available for recreation and will cause unmeasurable habitat loss.
I think this grand old park, and the general public, deserve more.
Jillian Lye
Raymond Terrace
