Campbelltown Council will press ahead with plans to change the name of the Gilchrist Drive Bridge to James Rookes Bridge.
James Rookes died when he fell off the bridge 16 years ago.
But when council placed the plans on exhibition and asked for comments last November, two local residents objected to the proposed change.
Tonight’s meeting of council will be told that one respondent suggested that the bridge be named after Elvastock, the name of the house which was demolished to make way for the bridge construction.
His family had lived in Elvastock for many years.
This resident also suggested a number of alternative names such as residents who had lived in the precinct of the bridge and still have descendants living in the area.
The second community member objected to the use of James Rookes as there was no act of bravery or of selfless sacrifice involved and suggested that there are possibly more noteworthy citizens the bridge could be named after, says the report to council.
“The original proposal to rename the bridge after James Rookes remains valid,’’ says the report.
“The proposed name will honour the memory of a life that was lost too early.
“It should be noted that council has in a number of previous instances renamed a number of other bridges throughout Campbelltown that have honoured lives lost at the respective locales.’’
• Other issues council will vote on tonight include long term plans for the Animal Care Facility.
The council will also discuss a new report it has commissioned on population growth forecasts for the Campbelltown local government area.
The forecast estimates the current population in 2017 of 162,902 will rise to 273,541 by 2036 – a projected increase of 68 per cent.
Council needs to endorse this forecast as the official base data which will inform future planning for the organisation and the city.
The report says the vast majority of the anticipated growth is expected to occur as a consequence of strategic policy directions and other decisions made by the NSW Government, including:
• the Glenfield to Macarthur Corridor Strategy;
• the Greater Macarthur land release investigation area;
• the sale of approximately 140 hectares of land at the Hurlstone Agricultural High School site at Glenfield;
• the Greater Macarthur priority growth area;
• various urban renewal projects across the city;
• current planning proposals that will result in the creation of additional dwellings;
• urban infill policies that allow the redevelopment of established areas at higher densities;
• NSW policies that allow secondary dwellings in new and established areas.
♦ Tonight’s council meeting starts from 6.30pm.
