A MOVE to make part of Athol Gallen Park an access road for a new development has angered a descendant of the man who donated the parkland.
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Athol Gallen Park, off Walter Rodd Street in Gunnedah, is part of five acres of land that was donated in 1970 by Athol Gallen to Gunnedah to remain as parkland.
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But Athol’s grandson Guy Gallen said council was now going against the wishes of his grandfather to use part of the land for a road.
“It was given to the Gunnedah community as parkland and was accepted, and that’s how it should stay,” Mr Gallen said.
“I think my grandfather would be totally gutted.
“We feel betrayed. When you give something to be held in trust, it should stay that way.”
A spokeswoman for Gunnedah Shire Council said this week council had granted development consent for a 27 residential lot subdivision in Goodwin Road in 2013.
This included an extension to Baxter Street and creation of public road access to both existing and future properties in the subdivision area.
“The creation of 27 new residential lots will provide an opportunity for lifestyle residential development within town limits providing housing options close to schools, services and the adjoining parkland – Athol Gallen Park,” the spokeswoman said.
She said the park had been contributed to council as a requirement of the subdivision of the Gallen Estate in the late 1960s.
It was made a public reserve in 1987 and the public road extension of Baxter Street was established, a move she said was consistent with the requirements of the 1986 Gunnedah Local Environmental Plan and the associated development control plans.
“Under the Local Government Act, land dedicated as public reserve is automatically classified as community land,” she said.
“This ensures that public reserves and parklands can only be used for community purposes.
“Baxter Street will be extended within the dedicated road reserve with the park remaining as public parkland for community use and enjoyment.”
She said community consultation had taken place as part of the development process, including the exhibition of council’s Development Control Plan in 2012 which was revised in 2013, and included the master plans for the area.
The spokeswoman said the subdivision application had been publicly advertised and adjoining property owners had been notified and encouraged to comment before a decision was made.
“This subdivision will create significant, cost-effective subdivision options for owners of land to the south of the development site consistent with council’s residential development vision for the area,” she said.
“In this regard, the extension of Baxter Street is an important strategic access consideration in this area.”
She said council had determined that the subdivision met the legislative requirements and could be approved.
Mr Gallen said although his own home was close by, he was not against the development.
“We are developers ourselves and want to see progress,” he said.
“But this was done without any consultation and done underhandedly.”
The Gallen family originally owned 460 acres of farmland in the area that extended from the Gunnedah Public South School site to Links Road.
The Gallens have developed subdivisions in the area themselves, with family names used as street names.
The new estate, being developed by G. J. Gardner Homes, is named Parkview Estate.
The estate is being advertised as “located close to schools and parkland and offering great views in a beautiful semi-rural setting”.
The blocks are advertised as being ready to build on early this year.