Rushcutters Bay Park Heritage Under Threat
- info1264513
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 9
URGENT REQUEST FOR OBJECTIONS to the proposed Rushcutters Bay Park Youth Recreation Area.
We are not against creating more recreational facilities for our youth, but this proposal is in the wrong spot in the wrong park. The local community has fought hard over the last 10 years to try to stop it as it is not consistent with the reasons for our Park’s 2019 State Heritage Register (SHR) listing.
SUBMIT (SHR no 02041) TO HERITAGE COUNCIL NSW by 5 pm Wednesday 13 August 2025 Email your objection: heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
We are not against creating more recreational facilities for our youth, but this proposal is in the wrong spot in the wrong park. The local community has fought hard over the last 10 years to try to stop it as it is not consistent with the reasons for our Park’s 2019 State Heritage Register (SHR) listing.
KEY REASONS TO OBJECT:
● A highly visible concrete structure, larger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool (1,225 sq m), to be built on green space just below the embankment of busy New South Head Road where it impacts the State Heritage recognised “open character” of the Park and disrupts the sweeping harbour views.*1
● Does not follow the recommendation of the former NSW Heritage Office, which said: “Areas of open [not built] spaces are not to be reduced. No built structures are to be constructed which obstruct unhindered access to all current open spaces.” *2
● Will have an “adverse impact” on the root system of a 100+ year SHR listed Port Jackson Fig and require “substantial canopy pruning” of a SHR 100 + year Moreton Bay Fig. *3
● Woollahra Council decided not to follow the advice of its Heritage Impact Statement to reduce the footprint to preserve the existing uncluttered vistas or to adhere to the recommendation in its Conservation Management Strategy, which states “Avoid changes which compromise the open character of grassed areas/playing fields.” *4
● Not consistent with SHR listing for the 1878 Park: This broad expanse of open foreshore land, punctuated with rows of huge Moreton Bay figs form a magnificent southern boundary to this bay-side common, located beside the most densely populated area of Sydney, a place of respite from city life, and an opportunity to enjoy sweeping views of inner Sydney Harbour…The park's key characteristic is its open spaces, which include more 'formal' grassed pitches used for soccer and football. Informal landscaped open areas of grass and various wide paved paths are used for strolling, jogging, picnicking and sight-seeing. *5
● Not in keeping with the community's attachment to the Park’s “unstructured open space character” as identified in petitions (over 2,000 signatures) against the proposed skate park and a community survey by the City of Sydney Council. *6
● An intrusive structure that will exacerbate this flood prone section of the park, which in turn will put further environmental stress on the SHR listed fig trees.
1 The Statement of Heritage Impact (July 2022), prepared for Woollahra Council by GML Heritage, said “the southwestern approaches and open character of the Rushcutters Bay Park would be impacted by the proposed Youth Facility, in particular in relation to the views and vistas within Rushcutters Bay Park at a radius of approximately 100m from the subject site, p 46.
2 Controversial bid for Rushcutters Bay skate park set to be quashed by heritage listing recommendation by Sue Williams, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 October 2019.
3 “In the case of T5 (Port Jackson Fig), the cumulative encroachment to the Tree Protection Zone is approximately 16%, which exceeds acceptable limits, Arboricultural Impact Assessment Report (April 2024),prepared for Woollahra Council by Earthscape Horticultural Services, p 10.
4 Conservation Management Strategy (2021), prepared for Woollahra Council by GML Heritage Consultant, p 98
6 Rushcutters Bay Park Plan of Management, City of Sydney Council, March 2022, p 25.
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