It has been recommended that council reclassify the land occupied by Pymble Playgroup, which could allow council to sell the property to another party.
Steph NashKu-Ring-Gai council held a public meeting earlier in the year to discuss the proposed reclassification of nine sites around the North Shore area. The chairperson’s report of this meeting was released in late July, which shows the recommendation of all nine sites to be reclassified, despite the many that turned up on the night to challenge council.
One of sites up for reclassification is 57 Merivale Rd, Pymble, home to Pymble Playgroup. The heritage listed site has been occupied by child care groups since 1973, with Pymble Playgroup’s lease on the site set to expire in 2021. Constructed in the 1890’s, and associated with early Australian soprano, Dame Nellie Melba, the site is heritage listed, and has recently been upgraded by the state governemnt.
If this suggestion is followed by council, the site will be reclassified from community land to operational land. Community classified land prohibits council from selling, exchanging or granting an interest to another party. If council were to reclassify this land as operational, they would have the opportunity to sell the premises to another party, leaving Pymble Playgroup’s future up in the air.
15 written submissions were lodged against the proposed classification between December last year and April 2014, with three additional oral submissions given at the public meeting. As summarised in the chairperson’s report, the main objections over the reclassification reflect the community’s concern for Pymble Playgroup, fearing that any future sell-off would leave the group without a suitable property. Despite the high number of complaints, the chairperson indicated that the reclassification would be justifiable, stating that the significant relationship shared between the playgroup and the community would not neccessarily have to be compromised by the reclassification.
“The reclassification of the land as ‘operational land‘… could, infact, facilitate longer term leases and other child care services,” the report stated.
This suggestion was well-recieved well by Playgroup NSW, who are the governing body behind Pymble Playgroup. CEO of Playgroup NSW, Karen Bevan, said that as long as Pymble Playgroup’s relationship with the children and families in the area remain uncompromised, the reclassification of the site would not be a problem.
“We at Playgroup NSW have responded to the council’s report positively. The report aknowledges that the property has been used by the Pymble Playgroup for many years, and it has been recommnded that the land be retained for child care purposes,” she said.
“We take this as an endorsement of the work of the playgroup in that community. The property should be available for work of that kind. I think if the site were to be taken away from the committe, it would represent the wrong relationship bewteen Playgroup NSW and the council.”
The report noted that there would be no other property in ther area to accomodate the playgroup’s five-day per week scheduled hours of operation, which Ms Bevan said would be devestating considering the popularity of the group.
“Families all over NSW really rely on local councils to support volunteer activites that beneift children and parents. Our hope that Ku-Ring-Gai council continue that relationship with us,” she said.
“Pymble is a successful long running playgroup, which is testament to the good relationship shared between them and the council. The State government invested around $20 million on the site, and we hope that these benefits can be enjoyed by the children and families in the Pymble area.”
Ku-Ring-Gai council have not yet made a decision as to whether they will reclassify 57 Merrivale Rd as operational land. Even though the chairperson’s report recommends that it would be in council’s best interest to negotiate a longer lease with Pymble Playgroup following reclassification, the community submissions made at the meeting reflect other concerns, such as the possible compromise of the site’s heritage significance by private ownership.
“Council has not made a decision on this matter yet. The reclassification proposal will be reported back to Council along with an assessment of the public submissions received on the planning proposal,” said a spokesperson from Ku-Ring-Gai council.
“The Pymble playgroup has a lease with Council that expires on 31 December 2021. The proposed reclassification to operational land does not have any effect on the heritage status of the item – this will remain unchanged.”
The independent chairperson’s report was compiled by Ludvik & Associates Pty Ltd. For more information on this issue, please see http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au
