BY IAN CROUCH
Lake Macquarie Council is on a collision course with the state government over the future of the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre.
Councillors voted on Monday night to support a motion to try to save the centre and demand the deed of agreement between Origin Energy and the NSW Office of Sport and Recreation be released.
The state government wants the site flattened amid concerns it could be threatened in the event of an unlikely major earthquake being triggered by the nearby coal ash dam.
This is despite work continuing on an Embankment Stabilisation Project which is due for completion next year.
Council will seek approval from Lands and Property Minister, Steve Kemper to refuse the DA to demolish the site, saying it would not be in the public interest, based on the following reasoning:
- The loss of value of the existing infrastructure to the community in the absence of a proposed replacement facility.
- The need for accessible and publicly operated recreation facilities for the Lake Macquarie area.
- The loss of social capital generated by losing a publicly run facility to service all members of the community.
- The absence of detail for the future use of the site.
The Myuna Bay Sport & Recreation Centre was closed without warning in 2019