Ray Yuen

We moved to Harrington Grove eighteen months ago. Harrington Grove is an estate within Harrington Park. Our previous homes were in Rosemeadow and St Helens Park (35 years in total) so we wanted to stay in the same area near our kids. I will write about Harrington Grove only.

I had never heard of 'community title' before buying here. We have to pay strata fees which gives us access to the three clubhouses with gyms, pools and tennis courts. The fees also cover maintaining the parks, street trees and many grassed areas. There are rules i.e. can't park boats, trailers and unregistered cars in front of our fence lines. This suits us, as where we lived before, my neighbour across the road had a large boat and camper trailer on his side of the road. Whenever they had visitors, they had to park on my footpath (due to the narrow road).

Plus there are noise restrictions after certain hours but that suits me too. A security car cruises around and I have waved to them on my driveway at 3am (when I can't sleep).

I sometimes travel to the city or Parramatta to have drinks with friends. That means walking to the bus stop on Oran Park Drive then twenty minutes to Leppington station. There is another bus stop on the Parkway that takes you to Campbelltown in fifty minutes!! You do need a car to live here, so when I'm too old to drive, it will be an issue. Local shopping centres are: Harrington Park (Coles), Gledswood Hills (Doctor, Supercheap Auto, Officeworks), Oran Park (Reject Shop and Commonwealth Bank), Gregory Hills (Reject Shop, Woolworths and vietnamese bakery). Narellan Town Centre is 3kms away. Macarthur Square in only fifteen minutes away. Across Camden Valley Way, we have all the fast food outlets, Services NSW, Toyota and 'Holden' dealers, so we have everything close at hand. Smeaton Grange has every type of trade, so you can get anything fixed.

Neighbours are great, even though you don't see many people around. Lots of couples walking their dogs. You can walk or pushbike on the concreted or tarred trails through the pretected forests (we have seen snakes). The main clubhouse holds events a few times a year where you can listen to live music, enjoy a snag or wine. You can BYO grog to the outer areas. The pool and kiddies pool looks like fun. We book the tennis courts, function room and BBQ areas online through a calendar system.

Our previous areas were starting to get unruly, which might suit most young people, but we're old and love the tranquility of Harrington Grove. The area is clean with all houses looking nice. I haven't had any complaining neighbours. We do have a Facebook page and residents have posted videos of hoodlums trying to break in. If you want to live somewhere different, try Harrington Grove. The rest of Harrington Park looks fine too.