A BOMADERRY family, who looked liked losing their home to make way for the Bomaderry/Nowra Regional Sports and Community Precinct, has welcomed news Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash will not support the compulsory acquisition of the properties.
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Preliminary plans for the $60 million proposed upgrade of Artie Smith Oval and Bomaderry Sporting Complex would have seen four Cambewarra Road homes make way for the precinct.
It meant the Evans family, along with three others, would lose their homes to make way for the complex which includes a new synthetic athletics track, a leisure centre incorporating a 25 metre heated indoor pool, Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre and a community pavilion to provide medical, physiotherapy, health and educational facilities.
Cr Gash said having looked over the plans for the area again she believed the project could still be constructed but with some refining the four homes could stay.
“I’m convinced the project can be developed without acquiring the four homes in Cambewarra Road,” Cr Gash said.
“I have spoken to the planners and I’m convinced something can be done.”
Cr Gash said after speaking to resident Kath Evans, she questioned if the homes had to make way for the proposal.
“Mrs Evans said to me ‘you are the mayor you can do something’. I wrestled with that suggestion and it worried me about them having this hanging over their heads. Having looked at the master plan I’m convinced we can retain the houses and still undertake the proposal,” Cr Gash said.
“Certainly if some of the home owners want to voluntarily negotiate with council we will talk to them. And we would not be ungenerous in our offer.
“But I will not be supporting any moves for compulsory acquisition.
“Bare in mind I am only one person.”
Over the past few weeks the Evans family has launched its own campaign, erecting signs on their Cambewarra Road property simply declaring “We are not going”, while another stated “If anyone is going it should be Joanna Gash”.
Cr Gash said she had not made the decision to win votes.
Rod Evans welcome the news.
“That’s brilliant news,” he said.
“And a big change, but we know there is still a long way to go.
“But as we have said all along we don’t want to go, this is our home.”
He said the family had lodged its submission regarding the $60 million proposal and had also sent it to a number of councillors.
“We have had response from a few councillors who said they supported our right not to have to move,” Mr Evans said.