BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT
A recent report has suggested that the State Government have
begun plans to privatise recreational sports centres across the State,
including Myuna Bay and Point Wolstoncroft on the shores of Lake Macquarie.
A report in The
Newcastle Herald has suggested that up to eight of the 11 recreational
sports centres across New South Wales will be up for lease.
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| Myuna Bay could be up for sale [Image Source: NSW Government]. |
The report says doing so would provide “the most favourable
long-term return to government”.
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper has expressed concern over the
plans, calling the sell-off of land by the Government is “enormous”.
“The amount of property of the people of NSW that can be
lost in one generation, if you like, of government has been quite enormous,” he
told 2NUR FM’s Todd Sergeant.
“This is part of the NSW estate that has been built up over
a long period of time and there’s so much of it being lost in such a short
period of time.”
The privatisation plan is the latest in a string of sell
offs by the State Government in an effort to fund major projects like the
Newcastle light rail and Sydney’s West Connex.
But Greg Piper says the Government still has a few questions
to answer as to why the sale would be a good thing.
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| Stuart Ayres |
“Why would we do it?
I’d image that they will say there might be better value in it for the
people,” he said.
“They’ll claim that perhaps the private sector can do it
better, I’m not convinced th
at that’s the case.
“I’m sure that people who’ve worked in the system and those
thousands of people who have benefited over the years would probably have a
different opinion.”
The Government are yet to confirm the plan, with Piper
confirming Sport Minister Stuart Ayres’ office have agreed to brief him.
