A small but determined community campaign run by lower North Shore residents has resulted in major action from the NSW Government, with Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison announcing plans to "rejuvenate" Bradfield Park in Kirribilli.
What happened: Since the late 1980s, when work on the Sydney Harbour Tunnel began, Bradfield Park has been sitting under the harbour bridge occupied by fences, diggers and trucks.
Transport for New South Wales, which currently occupies the south of Bradfield Park, claims it needs the land for maintenance work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Previously, the land was managed by North Sydney Council.
While years ago it was grassy and lush, the portion of the park under the bridge is now mostly sand and gravel.
Gears turning: Kirribilli locals have been asking for the land to be returned to council for years. In May, they went on the offensive, forming the “Save Bradfield Park South” campaign, holding public meetings, documenting the poor conditions of the parkland on social media and writing to government officials.
Premier Chris Minns, Transport Secretary Josh Murray and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison all received correspondence from the group, as did members of the NSW opposition. The campaign has been backed by North Sydney Council and North Shore MP Felicity Wilson.
More pressure was put on the government to act when Deputy Opposition Leader Natalie Ward began advocating on behalf of residents. In August budget estimates, she questioned NSW Transport Secretary Josh Murray why the park was still being used as a construction site.
Murray said the park was acting as “almost a semi-depot” for various infrastructure projects north of the bridge.
“It is a significant staging point for Transport [for NSW] … unfortunately for the community group, we do need some of that staging area”.
Government concedes: This morning, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison announced work would begin this year “scaling back the current worksite adjacent to the northern pylon, returning as much space as possible to the community”.
Aitchison would not comment on the impact of the community campaign on the decision.
Indicative renders provided by the NSW Government show that much of the area currently fenced off will remain in the hands of TfNSW. It claims this is for the repainting and removal of rust on the bridge ahead of its centenary in 2032.
Over 2027, Transport for NSW will be responsible for landscaping the park, improving drainage and laying new turf.