Parramatta Park. Picture Gene Ramirez
Parramatta’s World Heritage-listed park has been neglected by the state government since it took office, advocates for the site claim.
Environment and Heritage Minister Robyn Parker has not renewed or replaced any of the Parramatta Park Trust board members since taking the job after the March 2011 election.
The park and Old Government House are now being managed by the Western Sydney Parklands Trust but several Parramatta councillors have said the arrangement was an insult.
Cr Paul Garrard said the government had not prioritised historic site.
‘‘The problem we’ve had with Parramatta Park is the government has forgotten it’s there,’’ he said.
‘‘Look at the funding Moore Park gets, and Bicentenial Park Trust gets, and look what Parramatta Park gets.’’
Since 2008, Parramatta Park has been granted $14.6 million by state governments.
Centenial Parklands, which is four times bigger than Parramatta Park, has been given $23.6m in the same time.
But Centenial Parklands also has assets of $805m and annual revenue of about $27.5m, compared to Parramatta Park’s $33m in assets and revenue of less than $10m.
Cr Julia Finn said Parramatta Park should be develeloped into a community asset as Sydney’s parks had been.
But she said the figures showed government investment had not been adequate.
‘‘It doesn’t have funding commensurate with Hyde park or other parks in the east,’’ she said.
‘‘Parramatta Park is an iconic part of our city and it needs to be effectively managed and protected and it can’t do that without a trust.’’
State Parramatta MP Geoff Lee said the government was in the process of finalising board members to appoint to the trust.