About the Westleigh Waterboard Alliance (WWBA) ACN 619 935 081
WHAT IS “WESTLEIGH WATERBOARD”?
Westleigh water board is the the area now now know as Westleigh Park, 34 hectares of Sydney Water land located in Westleigh, NSW.
The land was purchased by Hornsby Council from Sydney Water in 2015, exchanging June 2016 for $21 Million to be developed as public space for the community. The land, known as the “Water Board” site, was a former night soil dump that was closed in 1964.
WHO IS THE WWBA?
The Westleigh Waterboard Alliance (WWBA) is a formally registered organisation which was formed by local residents and members from local community groups & sporting organisations. The WWBA aims to bring together all sporting and recreational bodies with the aim of ensuring that the solutions provided at ‘Westleigh Park’ by Hornsby council, will meet all community requirements. The alliance represents about 37 community, sporting, business and school groups to help cooperatively develop the land.
Lifetime membership of WWBA is $10 and is open to anyone who would like to contribute.
WHY WAS THE WWBA FORMED?
In June 2016, Council purchased 34 hectares of land in Westleigh from Sydney Water. read more on council’s website here
The WWBA was formed to ensure the best utilisation in the development of the former Sydney Water Board land. The land was purchased by Hornsby Council to meet the escalating shortfall of quality public sporting facilities in the Hornsby Shire and across Sydney’s upper northern region.
Excellent mountain bike trails (known as ‘H2o’ trails, a reference to the land’s former owners, Sydney Water) have been established on the site for some time, and are maintained by volunteers. Council intends for these trails to stay, pending the outcome of site investigations.
Our goal is to successfully meet the community’s growing and diverse sporting & recreational needs and to ensure the best possible outcomes.
The WWBA has brought together as a collective, the voices of various sporting clubs and community members to work cooperatively with local government, sporting bodies & clubs, and potential sponsors for the benefit of community interests.
WHAT HAVE THE WWBA BEEN DOING SO FAR?
As of June 2018 the Hornsby Member For Parliament Mr Matt Kean MP (Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation and the Hornsby State MP) is fully supportive of our efforts. Mr Kean is assisting the community to engage with government bodies to have this land turned into sports fields for our entire community to enjoy.
The WWBA has been raising awareness, gathering information and meeting with Council to represent our community. We have collated data to gauge needs & demand, formulated submissions and drawn up draft plans. For example, a concept plan has been drafted by the members of the WWBA, merely as a way of communicating the possibilities in discussion with Hornsby Shire Council. In the end the council will determine how the land gets developed into sporting fields and open space.
During this process we have involved local sporting clubs (e.g. football, cricket, cycling, baseball, athletics, basketball, netball, softball, gymnastics), local & state government councillors and parliamentarians, as well as local schools, organisations and residents.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET INVOLVED?
Supporting the Westleigh Waterboard Alliance is assisting the efforts of our community to have their voices heard by the Hornsby council, state and federal bodies – who in turn can fund development of the site.
Right now WWBA needs every local resident in our community to join us, and help us by supporting our cause. Hornsby council writes on their website: “It will be some time before residents actually see any development work on the site. Council has an exciting opportunity to create a great recreational space and we want to get it right, so Council will be consulting with the community throughout this process.”
Westleigh Park has the potential to be a great facility for generations to come.
Help your local community achieve its aim of ensuring that the development meets our community’s requirements – by supporting the fundraising and public awareness efforts of the Westleigh Waterboard Alliance. You may also make a donation here.
For further information: Contact Westleigh Waterboard Alliance Limited
ACN 619 935 081 or call 0409 007 134