Anger At Slow Tip Changes

Newcastle Herald

Friday December 5, 2008

By DONNA SHARPE

A PLAN to develop Maitland's former Anambah dump site into 19 hectares of sports fields and parklands has been put on hold because of a lack of staff resources.

The setback angered west ward councillor Henry Meskauskas, who said it was another blow for the city's western suburbs.

The council unveiled plans in April 1998 to transform the Anambah Road site into a recreation and sporting complex for the booming west.

The tip closed in September 1993 after 17 years of operation, when the council's waste management services moved to a new site on Mount Vincent Road, East Maitland.

The council's manager of community and recreation services Lyn Morton said the site "is not going anywhere at the moment".

Ms Morton said there had been a staff resource problem and before any decision could be made for the site a concept plan had to be devised.

Cr Meskauskas said he would raise the issue at the council's next meeting on Tuesday as a matter of urgency.

"We have been dragging the chain on this for too long now," he said.

"We had plans drawn up for this site for grounds for cricket, football, netball and tennis," Cr Meskauskas said.

"The western suburbs are developing faster than any other area in the city and we're not keeping up with the demands for infrastructure and community services such as this.

"Each year we have more and more people registering for different sports yet we don't have the facilities to keep up with those increasing numbers."

Cr Meskauskas believed about $300,000 was allocated to develop plans for the site.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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