Council compromise on Kincumber tree removal plan

Kincumber residents concerned by a Central Coast Council plan to remove trees at Patrick Croke Oval believe their needs have been ignored in favour of sporting and occasional recreation users.

Residents say the trees which back onto the oval are about 40 years old and provide a privacy screen for adjoining nearby homes.

Residents were surprised to learn Council was proceeding with a plan to develop the site for sporting teams and a dog training school although there was an existing large sporting field adjacent the proposed site.

There are also concerns the installation of lighting towers will shine into properties.

“The trees were planted by residents, with Council approval, over 40 years, as a privacy screen as the backyards, verandas and bedrooms, especially on the raised blocks, are completely exposed at the back to the public,” resident Wayne Rigg said.

“Their removal is very disturbing to all the local residents.

“This will remove all privacy at the rear of our properties and cause excessive noise every week from sporting teams, during weeknights and weekends, and around 50 barking dogs every Saturday, immediately behind our fences.”

The residents met with Council representatives last Thursday, October 3, on site and say that while a compromise was met regarding the number of trees to be removed, there were still concerns more trees would be removed in the future if Council decided to increase the playing field further for increased use.

“What is still not okay is that there will be noise from teams adjacent to our back fence, some don’t have a fence, light from the lighting towers shining into bedrooms and the loss of privacy of two of the three residents’ side of the field,” Rigg said.

“Balls and players will inevitably come into our backyards, also possibly causing damage and increasing the possibility of people accessing our yards.”

He said staff told the residents the zoning of the field changed a couple of years ago, which they were unaware of.

“The bottom line is Council has prioritised the supposed needs of occasional users for recreation, over the concerns and needs of permanent residents,” he said.

“That is not okay especially when regulations change without notice.

“The area has been a great feature and resource for over four decades.

“Council repeatedly told existing and recent new residents the area would not change.”

He said residents planned to appeal to the newly elected Central Coast councillors for support.

A Council spokesperson defended the plan saying Council needed to plan for the rapidly escalating number of people participating in sport.

She said Council planned to improve suitably zoned Council owned land to provide sporting services for both training and junior sport activities. 

The spokesperson said the land in question was zoned RE1 for public recreation and work which included field levelling, drainage, irrigation, lighting and some building alterations, was being funded through a Federal Government grant.

She said Council staff had met with adjoining property owners to outline the project objectives and hear the concerns in order try and mitigate these where possible.

“Council will work to try and address the concerns raised by neighbouring property owners where possible, however whilst balancing the need to provide much needed usable space for the sporting community,” she said.