Mark Coure sides with community on Glenlee precinct

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, has mounted a campaign on the back of strong local support to hand the Glenlee property to the community while rejecting overdevelopment.

Following outcry from nearby residents in favour of transforming the Glenlee property into a public green space, all levels of Government have been approached to create an intergenerational community hub.

“This space can be best utilised as a natural community precinct that can be enjoyed by local residents whilst also maintaining the environmental equilibrium and natural beauty of this space,” Mr Coure said.

“In my ten years as the Member for Oatley, I have always staunchly opposed inappropriate development that does not reflect the needs of the wider St George community.”

Georges River Council is currently reviewing a development application for a Torrens title subdivision of 31 plots of land for residential use at the Glenlee property which is also known by local residents as Lugarno Farm.

This development would require demolition works and the construction of additional roads, drainage and tree removal within the precinct.

“Lugarno is a tight-knit community with just over 5000 residents and it is simply not the place for large scale development. The subsequent impacts on local infrastructure has not been accounted for and these implications must be properly assessed.”

“This precinct has been home to the Matthei family for more than 110 years and the evidence of Indigenous occupation demonstrates that the history of this space is far greater.”

“It is fundamental that we maintain the natural biodiversity of the Georges River and the Lugarno foreshore to protect native wildlife including echidnas and local swamp wallabies.”

Mr Coure has addressed his concerns on the matter with Georges River Council, the Federal Government and a suite of relevant NSW Government Ministers.

“I have addressed all levels of Government and every possible avenue of support to try and achieve the best outcome for our community and the region more broadly.”

Mr Coure has spoken about this matter in NSW Parliament and has now launched an online petition to highlight the scale of this issue across all levels of Government.

To sign the digital petition, please visit: https://forms.gle/13mbBYRQEPdQma6B9