Boomerang Park was dedicated as a public reserve in 1837 and subsequently as a recreation reserve in September 1892.

The park was named in 1914 after the author J.R. Houlding who wrote under the nom de plume of "Old Boomerang".

Stone was quarried from a site in Boomerang Park and used in many present day buildings.

The stone was awarded a medal in a world exhibition in Canada in 1893 and another in an Australian exhibition in 1887.

During the Boer War the park was used for training The Light Horsemen, it was also a marshalling ground for WWI and WWII - this is major history in Raymond Terrace.

I don't want that history covered up with houses.

How about some acknowledgement of this history in the park?

A dedicated memorial to be proud of?

What sort of a council is so arrogant to decide to rezone such a historic, heritage listed and gifted community parkland in order to sell it off for housing development?

Surely an increasing population increases the need for public open space?

Taking the park off the community and selling such a huge area goes against what the community wants and needs.

Is it even legal?

The area around the historic cemetery and Phillip Road could do with a facelift, in doing so it may satiate the council's and the developer's need for more housing development.

The park is so neglected, people want to use it but it is difficult when the grass is a foot long and children are getting bitten by green ants.

Even worse when the toilet block is locked or has wasp's nests inside.

Port Stephens Council, in my opinion, falls way short on the policies for the park's management plan.

F. Magree

Raymond Terrace