Evanston Gardens residents campaigning to stop the Gawler Council from selling their local park for housing development, are taking their fight to State Parliament.
Residents have sought the assistance of Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo, to ensure their voice is heard.
Mr Piccolo said he tabled the 584 signature strong petition today and delivered a speech to the House which ensured the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Stephan Knoll, was aware of residents' views.
"Under the Local Government Act the Minister for Local Government must approve any decision made by a local council to revoke the community classification of a park or reserve before it can be sold on the open Market." Mr Piccolo Said
"Through the petition, residents have made Parliament aware of Gawler council’s intention to seek revocation of the Musgrave Street Reserve and are calling on Minister Knoll to refuse to approve the revocation of the community-classified reserve."
Residents argue that the sale of the reserve “will remove important open space from the immediate vicinity, which is utilized by local fauna and adds to the amenity of the suburb”.
Council is in the process of reviewing the public submissions received in response to its proposal, and will prepare a report containing a series of options for consideration at the 24 July Ordinary Council Meeting.
But Mr Piccolo said that the residents had taken the step to petition parliament because they were not confident that the Gawler council was listening to their pleas.
“A number of decisions and actions by the Gawler Council over the past two years on a range of issues has created an atmosphere of mistrust and a lack of confidence that council’s consultation processes are a genuine attempt to gauge community views on issues,” he said.“
Residents do not believe the Gawler Council is listening to them.”
“The residents are leaving no stone unturned and hope that the Minister will listen to their arguments, even if the Gawler Council doesn’t.”