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Everyone wants a piece of the old Lawson golf course, including the Blue Mountains Conservation Society which is hoping it will finally get a new home for its nursery. Three “demonstration concepts” for the course have been drawn up in response to public submissions about what to do with the land. They aim to give an idea of how the course could be used for different recreation facilities. They call for comment but are not final plans, council’s website stressed. “The demonstration concepts have been produced purely to demonstrate how the facilities suggested by the community could be laid out on the ground and to generate discussion.” The wish list includes upgraded BMX facilities, more parking, four or five sports grounds/soccer pitches, five indoor sports courts, new amenities buildings, a cafe, aged care accommodation, tourism development, bike tracks, nature play area, flexible open space, walking paths and the nursery. All of the concepts retain the popular and well used off-leash dog area. The Conservation Society believes a section beside the old club house (near to water and electricity) would be perfect for its nursery, which has been without a decent home since August 2016, when the lease on its former premises expired. Since then, volunteers have continued to propagate native plants behind the NPWS at Blackheath, but the area is too small and cold and can’t be opened for sales to the public. Nursery manager, Hugh Brougham, said the Lawson area could allow them to double or even triple the number of plants they grow. Ideally, they could also share part of the club house to use as an educational centre. The society has strong criticisms of all of the concepts. “All options represent a significant over–development of the site, with multiple sporting fields/ovals, new indoor sporting facilities and new amenity blocks and club houses,” said president Madi Maclean. “All this new development requires supporting infrastructure such as a new internal road system, extensive new car parking, as well as water, sewage and electricity connection. “The society feels council has not demonstrated the need or demand for such a huge increase in sporting infrastructure in the Mid Mountains.” Ms Maclean said another issue in the plans was a section which involved turning the existing BMX track into new residential/aged care and private tourism. “This means converting existing public land open to everyone to private ownership,” she said. “Rather than see the area massively redeveloped, the society wants the site managed as an open space recreation area and bushland reserve - with no new sporting or residential redevelopment. “We support maintenance of the existing uses of the site at their current locations, including the existing BMX track, oval, cemetery, dog off leash area and bushwalking tracks.” Submissions close April 20. See bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au.

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