"We have been promised things before and they never happened. This development is no different".
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Alma Bamblett Community Centre co-ordinator Leonie Kawelmacher is referring to Place Plan, a NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) program that was canned during COVID, 2020.
Pioneer residents were promised a revamp to their community centre and upgrades to Dave Taylor Park as part of the program, which aimed to work with social housing areas to build leadership and encourage ownership of future decisions of the community.
"The Place Plan model really worked. It was the only program the government actually had in social areas that has made a real difference," Sherryn Hill, former project officer of Place Plan said.
During her five years working closely with Ms Kawelmacher and the Pioneer community, Mrs Hill explained through extensive consultation with residents, plans were made and funding allocated for the Alma Bamblett Centre and upgrading of park facilities.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It was very much: We were there and then we were gone."
However, when COVID hit in 2020, Mrs Hill was given her marching orders and, with her departure, any promises made to the Pioneer community.
"Basically the rug was pulled from under us and we were told, 'As of June 30, you're gone'," she said.
"Because of the COVID situation we didn't even get the chance to go back to the communities and say we weren't coming back and explain what had been put in place for them, which is what I would've liked to do, but none of that happened."
"It was very much we were there and then we were gone."
Now that Dave Taylor Park is to be the site of the new affordable housing project Griffin Green, Pioneer residents say they don't trust that their concerns will be considered or their park replaced.
Mrs Hill says despite hosting community feedback sessions where a number of concerns were raised from the residents, she feels the development will push forward regardless, leaving the community behind.
"When I left DCJ I was told that there would be extensive consultation with Pioneer about Griffin Green and the removal of the mound," she said.
"I would like to know what they are going to do now with the information they gauged from the barbecues they have put on.
"It's great having a barbecue and having a chat but if you're not going to act upon the concerns of the community, then it's not useful."
The Area News will be following up this story with NSW Department of Communities and Justice.