An artist’s impression of the proposed wave park.
Camera IconAn artist’s impression of the proposed wave park. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Opinion: Wave Park good idea in wrong location

Peter Neesham, MelvilleMelville Gazette

IT IS disappointing that some supporters of the wave park proposal at Tompkins Park have made personal attacks on those opposed to it rather than argue their case.

It is easy enough to support something where you may obtain a benefit without having to deal with the consequences of such a development.

Most residents have no objection to a wave park. They believe Tompkins Park is the wrong location.

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Opponents are not a small group of nimbys with Tompkins Park “extending their front lawns”.

Many of the 3462 signatories on a recently presented petition to Parliament were City of Melville residents who do not live near Tompkins Park.

This indicates significant community opposition, citywide.

Aside from the obvious potential environmental problems, loss of ground space to field sports and increased traffic congestion, a major concern is the commercialisation of land once associated with a community activity.

The City of Melville processes, in relation to moving the Melville Bowling Club to free up this land for commercial use, should be of concern to any resident who has an association with a sporting or community group.

It is not good enough for the City to provide assurances about their future intentions.

This proposal is a precedent that could potentially impact every sporting club or community group in Melville into the future.

The area planned for this development is currently available to the any member of the public to access.

To me, that makes it public open space.

This unrestricted access cannot continue with the wave park development.

Thus the community will lose 4.4 hectares of public open space when the land is transferred to a commercial entity.

Condensing existing clubs into the remaining public open space to accommodate this large and risky commercial venture on our prime riverfront land makes no sense.

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