Hogben Park basketball court advances in 8 - 4 vote as skate and dog parks are dropped

An additional basketball half court will be investigated at Hogben Park after Georges River Council’s Environment and Planning Committee voted 8 - 4 to end further consideration of a skate park and fenced dog park in the current draft master plan.

Councillors Peter Mahoney and Christina Jamieson moved the recommendation, which supports adding the half court to the draft Hogben Park Landscape Master Plan. The resolution also records that the skate park and fenced dog park are not to be explored further for inclusion in the plan.

Councillors Tom Arthur, Thomas Gao, Gerard Hayes and Ben Wang voted against the motion. It was carried with eight votes in favour and four against.

The outcome narrows the recreational facilities being considered at Hogben Park to further basketball planning. No construction date, project cost or funding allocation was specified.

Further investigation of the half court is the next step in the draft landscape master-planning process. The skate park and fenced dog park will not progress through that process.

The committee also noted the commencement of the NSW State Land Use Plan and Sydney Plan, including their implications for the Georges River local government area. It noted that the new strategic planning framework could influence future planning decisions and land-use policy in the area.

Councillors also noted changes to planning notification and community engagement arrangements under the Statewide Community Participation Plan. The changes apply to planning matters in Georges River, although detailed notification rules were not specified.

At the same meeting, the committee approved an amended Beverley Park Golf Club Plan of Management for public exhibition for at least 28 days, with submissions accepted for up to 42 days. References to possible security-style fencing must be removed before exhibition. The plan includes proposed land categories of General Community Use, Natural Area, Watercourse and Sportsground, with a public hearing proposed on the categorisation.