About 20 concerned residents gathered outside a Southern Highlands property on September 24 in an effort to protect a historically significant cricket pitch from possible development.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The gathering was prompted by a visit from Land and Environment Court representatives to assess the site earmarked for a seniors living development proposal.
The property at 11 Edward Street, Bowral, has been under consideration for development by ERF Hospice for several years.
However, a 19th Century cricket pitch linked to the late Sir Donald Bradman could prove a stumbling block.
The pitch is believed to have been built in 1892 by the Bowral Association Cricket Club.
RELATED:
READ MORE:
Keen campaigner to protect the heritage significance of the site, Nick Corbett said that "what makes this old cricket ground so compelling is that it was also Don Bradman's school sports ground, where he played his first organised cricket, and practiced at lunch time."
A development application from ERF Hospice featuring 16, mainly two-storey dwellings, was knocked back by Wingecarribee Shire Council in 2018.
The developers lodged an appeal through the Land and Environment Court and council is in the process of defending its decision. However, the developers have since submitted a modified application through the court for 13 dwellings on the site in the hope of getting the proposal across the line.
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson confirmed that about 20 written submissions had been received during a recent public exhibition of the modified development proposal.
Meanwhile Land and Environment Court officials met onsite with developers on September 24 to further assess the proposal.
Residents were advised that there would be no opportunity for a meeting with the public, but submissions from the exhibition period would be considered.
However, that didn't stop residents meeting outside the property to make sure their concerns were heard.
A member of the Wingecarribee Shire Council Heritage Committee Dennis McManus said that his concern was that a lot of development can take place in residential areas that residents are aware of.
"In the case of a heritage conservation area you can still have senior living, medical amenities and boarding houses," he said.
"When council tries to say no, the applicant can appeal to the land and environment court. The problem is that it's time consuming, cost ratepayers' money and is often in favour of the applicant."
Mr McManus said that currently in Sydney Metropolitan area it was not permissible for seniors' living developments in conservation areas as there was a moratorium.
He said as such he felt there was more pressure from developers to look at seniors' living projects in the Wingecarribee.
Mr Corbett said that the cricket pitch was the last of three pitches in 'The Glebe'.
"In a way it's a forgotten history, and gives context to Don Bradman," he said.
"The cricket pitch is authentic and has never been rebuilt since 1892.
"It shows the difference to the modern cricket pitch because the dimensions have changed, but it can be repaired with lime and mortar."
Nearby resident Bud Townsing said it was important to maintain the tradition of heritage areas.
"We need to keep fighting battles to maintain the integrity of the area. It has been done for more than 100 years," he said.
Mr Townsing pointed out the the site earmarked for development was part of the St Jude's conservation precinct.
In a book published by Mr Townsing and his late wife Maureen in 2016 entitled A Brief History of Church and Edward Streets, Bowral, the couple identified that a covenant from 1921 was in place in the area to "ensure achievement of the intention of the plan which required only single dwellings be erected on each lot."
Representatives for the developer ERF Hospice declined to comment.
