Residents of Macquarie Links need to think long and hard about supporting the proposal to subdivide the last piece of open space in the estate for housing.
The original developer of Macquarie Links, Monarch Investments, is behind the proposal, marketed to the residents as a joint venture between them and the company.
Certainly the promise of sharing in a windfall would be tempting for many, and who could blame them, especially right now in the middle of the worst cost of living crisis for almost 40 years
According to the CEO for Monarch, Peter Icklow, residents could potentially share in a pot of just under $15 million if the subdivision and sale of land go ahead.
But residents need to heed the words of their fellow resident and former Campbelltown Mayor, Les Patterson.
“Once the land is gone it’s gone forever,’’ he told the South West Voice last week when he declared he was opposed to developing the land across his home in Governor’s Way.
The land occupies just about the highest point of the estate and offers clear views to the Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge.
Most of it is passive recreation land, with a small section devoted to a soccer field with portable goalposts.
There’s a wonderful forest on the eastern ridge, facing Ingleburn, and amazing walking paths and lookouts.
While talking to Mr Patterson on site, a family walked up while we were chatting, and the kids raced to the soccer field to kick the ball around.
The South West Voice asked the parents what they thought of the proposal, and they said they weren’t sure which way they would be leaning, which is understandable.
It’s also true there’s a massive housing shortage, but a money grab like this won’t save the day, not with the proposed 30 home sites.
The developer should quietly withdraw from the whole venture and let the people of Macquarie Links enjoy what little open space they have.
From the response we have had since publishing the story last week, it would be an emphatic “no’’ from the people of Macquarie Links and Campbelltown if the proposal ever turned up on public exhibition.
It is extremely sad to know that the owner of Monarch Investments would even be considering building on the only surviving area of green space within Macquarie Links.
The whole area was adjoined to Macquarie Field House, one of the most substantial historic buildings within Macarthur which was known by historians and architects as ‘the best example of a colonial gentleman’s residence outside of NSW’.
In the 1960s, Macquarie Field House was restored, from a derelict building due for demolition, by entrepreneur David Jamieson and he and his family owned it until the early 1990s.
He did everything he could to maintain the greenspace around the property while he owned it – planting hundreds of trees etc. over time, truly caring for it and its history as the property of James Meehan, convict, explorer and deputy surveyor-general.
When Mr Jamieson moved on, due to the property becoming too much for him to manage as he aged, a major part of it was sold to become Macquarie Links, golf course and deluxe housing.
So many historic buildings in the Campbelltown area have had their surrounds replaced by housing over the years, one of which sticks in my mind, as a lost opportunity by the Council.
Remember Blair Athol, on the hill above the town?
Whichever councillors passed that to have modern houses, and not very attractive ones at that, built so close to the actual building deserve to be pilloried – it was a big mistake and one that should not be repeated on even more important land at Macquarie Links.
I see that as a golden opportunity for a real estate developer with no interest in saving any green space in favour of more housing, and not the cheaper kind, mind you, but more high end housing.
It’s a money grab which I hope will not come to pass now or in the future.
Land may be scarce, but not every bit of spare land needs to be built on just for the sake of it.
If the residents of Macquarie Links want to keep that land green and for play and leisure then I hope they will not take up any grand offers to let it go.
Campbelltown has already been over developed in recent years and has lost most of the charm it had when I lived there for just under 40 years and where I was a member of the CAHS, working to save the town’s history for many of those years.
I hope the Historical Society will be against any moves to develop the green space on Macquarie Links for more housing.
Lorraine, thanks so much for providing the historical context on this issue, and the reminder of the folly at Blair Athol.
Hear hear
Hi,
Our house is just opposite to the reserve, next to Les’s house. We consider the reserve as one of USPs of our house and it feels likes the reserve is part of our house. The views from the reserve are great and it feels very pleasant when you go on a walk with your family. We saw many families having picnics and fun when the weather is good. It will be very sad if the council allows the developer to build something on that land. We will try our best to oppose any real estate development on that land. There is ample amount of land elsewhere they can build these houses.