Petersham Park is a valued open space used by the locals and the broader community for gatherings, picnics, recreation and dog socialising. The oval is a training and competition ground for cricket and baseball clubs. We've begun to plan for its future.

Why now?

In 2018, the State Government amended the Crown Lands Act. As a result, we needed to update and adopt Plans of Management for all Crown Lands public open space. In November 2018, Council adopted an Inner West Open Space Areas Plan of Management Priorities list.

What's been done so far?

In March 2020, we sought community input on how to care for and manage Petersham Park over the next 10 years. That feedback has been combined with expert advice and other information in the draft Plan of Management (POM) and Master Plan.

The drafts are now on public exhibition for review - did we capture your ideas?

Key proposals in the draft Plan of Management and Master Plan include:

• Expansion of the playground with new nature play facilities, wild-play elements and additional seating
• Upgrade to the oval scoreboard
• Native meadow planting to improve the habitat for native wildlife including Petersham Park's much-loved bandicoots
• Upgrade of furniture and signage to include a consistent palette throughout the park
• Installation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) infrastructure to help manage overland flow from Brighton Street to the oval. The infrastructure would be integrated into the landscape and education and historical signage included.

Read the full draft documents

There are three ways you can review the documents during public exhibition:

1. Download a copy of the draft Plan of Management and Master Plan

2. Contact Vanessa Phillips 02 93352267 and request a paper copy be posted to your address.

3. Hardcopies of POM documents are usually available to view at the following locations:

• Ashfield Service Centre, 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield. Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm
• Leichhardt Service Centre, 7-15 Wetherill Street, Leichhardt. Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm
• Petersham Service Centre, 2-14 Fisher Street, Petersham. Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm
• Balmain Library, 370 Darling Street, Balmain. Monday to Thursday 9am to 7.30pm, Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Renaming the oval grandstand

We’re also engaging on a proposal to update the name of the oval grandstand to reflect contributions from local sporting heroes. In consultation with the families involved, Council is planning to re-name the “D. Seddon Memorial Grandstand” to “The Hughes family-Dudley Seddon Memorial Grandstand”. This retains the Seddon name and adds that of the Hughes family in recognition of their contribution to the Petersham Cricket Club.

Find out more about the background behind the name change proposal in the *FAQs and read the Council resolution and the meeting minute.

*All historic cricketing information has been supplied by Lyall Gardner, Historian - Randwick Petersham Cricket Club.

Have your say

To provide feedback:

• Complete the feedback form
• If you are representing an organisation, complete the organisation feedback form
• Contact Vanessa Phillips on 02 93352267 or email vanessa.phillips@innerwest.nsw.gov.au if you would like us to send you a paper feedback form.
  
• To receive information or provide feedback in another format, call us Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm via free community services. You will need to provide Inner West Council's phone number 02 93352267.
• For a free interpreter call us via TIS National on 131 450
• If you have a hearing or speech impairment contact us via the National Relay Service:
  • Voice Relay number: 1300 555 727
  • TTY number: 133 677
  • SMS relay number: 0423 677 767

The last day to provide feedback is 1 December 2021.

What happens next?

Your feedback will be reviewed by the project team and where relevant incorporated into the draft Plans. The elected Council will make a decision to either adopt the draft Plans as exhibited; adopt the the Plans with changes; or not adopt the the Plans. Everyone who provides feedback will be notified when the Plans are being considered by Council. Parts of the land are owned by the State Government, referred to as Crown Land/Reserve. The Minister must approve the land categorisations in the final Plan of Management before we proceed. Following the Crown Lands review, we are required to re-exhibit the plans, regardless of if there have been further changes, The final Plans are considered by Council for adoption. If supported, the works will be delivered progressively over the next 10 years.