Local advocates say now’s the time to fight back against the Broadmeadow Place Strategy, with worries the Newcastle Showground could be eaten up by housing development.
The Strategy would provide 20,000 homes including high-rise construction over the coming three decades.
A local association says the showground needs to be brought back into community hands to safeguard it against future development.
Newcastle Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Association President Peter Evans says he’s concerned about the plans.
“They say that there’s a heritage preservation on the oval. Wait and see what they do, because it’s only local,” he said.
“I tried to get the whole showground listed for Heritage NSW and they wouldn’t be a part of it. Is that crazy? I mean, this is a Newcastle asset, [it] should be retained for the benefit of our young people,” he said.
A Change.org petition to bring the venue back into local management has garnered over 2000 signatures.
BY PETER HYSLOP