Headland eyesore remains

Headland eyesore remainsPlans by local developer Keith Stronach to transform the former bowling club site at King Edward Park into a function centre that would create 60 jobs have been dealt a heavy blow by the Land & Environment Court.More than 12 months after “The Friends of King Edward Park” challenged Council’s approval of the development; Justice Sheahan has given his ruling in favour of the group.In a saga reminiscent of Mr. Stronach’ s long battle to replace Merewether’s old Surfhouse, which had stood over the beach as a derelict eyesore for nearly 20 years, Justice Sheahan found that former Lands Minister Tony Kelly had not considered certain matters in approving the site’s plan of management.Through lack of attention to the proper detail, the Minister and his department produced a document that wasn’t capable of supporting the project they wanted to attract.That left Newcastle City Council’s approval in 2011 for a function centre, kiosk and associated car parking and landscaping ”invalid and of no effect”.It also leaves the headland site, with spectacular views of the coast and city, vacant and surrounded by ugly fencing.Outside the court, Keith Stronach said the ”naysayers have managed to hold the city back” again.But Greens MP David Shoebridge weighed into the debate on the back of the court’s ruling, saying the decision was important because it meant the general public would not be excluded from the site.Unfortunately the comments of Mr Shoebridge ignore the fact the public are currently excluded and that a members-only bowling club operated from the site for more than 100 years.The only way the project can now become a reality is for the current Minister to follow the correct procedures in making a plan of management that permits a new purpose on public land.Provided the Minister can be shown the merits of the development, he or she has the power to ensure another important project in the revitalisation of Newcastle’s coast proceeds.