Land Reclassification and Rezoning Proposal - Bellbird Park Bowling Club

Background 

At Ordinary Council meeting held 17 February 2021, the elected Council resolved to reclassify a portion of Carmichael Park from Community to Operational Land. This furthers the actions of the Carmichael Park Masterplan that includes works in regards to the Bellbird Park Bowling Club (BPBC) to address the following issues:

• Fencing and extension of the bowling club’s boundary at the southern end to allow vehicular access for club patrons and deliveries etc; and
• Fencing of the western boundary to formalise the site and stop vehicular access from the bowling club through Carmichael Park.

The masterplan and discussions with the BPBC identified that BPBC requires a strip of land along their southern boundary (adjacent to the main football field) to formalise access historically gained using Council land. This will facilitate clear and separate vehicular access to the rear of BPBC and separate this from users of Carmichael Park.

Currently the subject land is classified as Community Land and will require reclassification to Operational use to enable the sale.

Project Information 

Council is the owner of the subject land which is currently classified as Community Land under the Local Government Act 1993. Council has prepared a planning proposal in order to reclassify this land from community to operational.

The Planning Proposal seeks to reclassify the portion of Carmichael Park shown in the image above from Community to Operational Land.

Further, the Planning Proposal seeks to rezone this same portion of land from RE1 Public Recreation to RE2 Private Recreation in keeping with the remainder of the site owned by Bellbird Park Bowling Club.

You can view the planning proposal by clicking here.

View the important documents about this project via the links below:

• View the Gateway Determination by clicking here.
• View the Gateway Determination - Letter to Council by clicking here.
• View the Practice Note by clicking here.
• View the Council Meeting Minutes from 17 February 2021 by clicking here.
• View the Council Meeting Minutes from 19 April 2023 by clicking here.
• View the Carmichael Park Masterplan document by clicking here

Public Hearing

Tuesday 24th September 2024

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Cessnock City Council Administration Building - Community Meeting Room (Access via council carpark on Cumberland St)

As this planning proposal includes the reclassification of public land from Community to Operational, under the Local Government Act 1993 a public hearing must be held.

The Public Hearing is an independent process to hear and capture community views about the proposed reclassification. This will help to inform Council’s decision about the proposal. All community members are welcome to attend. This hearing will be independently chaired and facilitated.

There are specific requirements for an independent person to chair the hearing and prepare a public hearing report, and that Council make the report publicly available. This is required under Division 1 (29) of the Local Government Act 1993 (Division 1 Classification and reclassification of public land part 29 Public Hearing into reclassification) Local Government Act 1993 No 30 - NSW Legislation.