​In a win for our community, the Land and Environment Court has ruled in favour of Canterbury-Bankstown Council and dismissed the appeal by developer, Trevenar Pty Ltd who sought to develop land adjacent to Ashbury’s Peace Park into seven residential lots.

The vacant land at 30 Trevenar Street, Ashbury, has been the subject of a heated zoning dispute between Council and developer. While the developer wanted to subdivide the 6,700 sqm site at the southwest of the Ashbury Peace Park, Council has been advocating for the land to be kept as an open space.

The history of the land is quite significant. It was originally held by Ashbury Brickyard before becoming a Peace Park in 1993. The majority of the site was transferred to the former Canterbury Council but 30 Trevenar Street was given to the state-owned energy provider by the NSW Government, which became Ausgrid. Ausgrid then sold the land on 13 May 2021.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the decision by the court was a win for common sense and a huge win for our community.

“This has been a long drawn out battle but in the end the right result has been achieved,” Mayor Asfour said.

Mayor Asfour hasn’t been alone in his fight to develop the park and has been supported by local resident group Protect Our Peace Park, speaking at a rally in April where hundreds of people turned out..

“I have rallied with the community to retain this land for open space. The ruling of the Land and Environment Court is a great win and will continue to fight for open spaces that everyone in our community should be able to enjoy,” Mayor Asfour says.

“Over the years, I’ve sent letters to both the former and current NSW Planning Ministers, seeking support for Council’s planning proposal, to ensure this rare piece of undeveloped land is given back to the community as open space, next to the existing Peace Park,” Mayor Asfour says.

“It’s great news that the Court supports Council’s position and I’ll be calling on the State Government to step in and acquire the land so it will remain in the hands of our community, as an open space for all – which is what we have been fighting for,” Mayor Asfour says.

“This is more than just a fight over land – it reflects our passion for a public asset that will improve the well-being of our community and will be enjoyed for future generations.”

“I now call on the Government to act quickly on Council’s Planning Proposal to rezone the land to public recreation.

Council submitted a Planning Proposal to rezone the land from R2 Low Density Residential to RE1 Public Recreation is awaiting finalisation by the Department of Planning.