Residents invited to have their say about three playspaces

Plans are underway to upgrade the park ground at Pete Howard Reserve, San Remo

Community consultation is now open for residents to have their say about three playspaces being planned by Central Coast Council – two at Gwandalan and one at San Remo.

The park at John Pete Howard Reserve, San Remo, is due to be replaced, and an upgrade to a larger, safer and more inclusive playspace is planned to start in April 2021.

As part of the Tunkuwallin Recreation Precinct Plan, a new district level playspace is earmarked for inclusion at Gwandalan oval.

This round of community consultation follows previous resident feedback and in-depth investigations by Council to establish a play area for children in a broad range of ages and abilities.

Another Gwandalan playspace will be developed on the corner of Fairwater Dr and Peninsula Dr in the new South Eastern Park neighbourhood.

There are several requirements and considerations relating to the protection of natural ecological features of South Eastern Park which will play a part in the planning and design of this playspace.

Council will also install educational signage to highlight the ecological values within the nature play space and adjoining bush.

Secretary of Gwandalan and Summerland Point Peninsula Improvement Group (GASPPIG), Meredith Corrigan, said that both these playgrounds were critical projects for their community.

“The South Eastern Park playground has an extensive history of loss, after the original playground in the Rosecorp Estate was deleted, with the approval of the Council,” she said.

“Residents had bought their land on the proviso that a playground was included and what followed was an extensive and hard-fought campaign by the affected community to get this playground reinstated.

“The Tunkuwallin project is also very important to the community as it’s a project that unifies all sports and fitness aspects of the community, with netball courts, playing fields, skate ramp and the like on one site.

“Our community covers young to old, so parents can go down to play sports whilst children can play safely on play equipment.”

Corrigan said GASPPIG had also applied for a grant from Delta Coal to enhance the playground with static fitness equipment which can be utilised by all age groups.

Work on both Gwandalan playspaces is due to start in May 2021.

Council’s Administrator, Dick Persson, encouraged residents to have their say about these projects by filling in the online survey.

“Community participation in planning matters is important in creating a shared sense of purpose, direction and understanding,” he said.

“Council has the important responsibility of ensuring that decisions we make for and on behalf of the community ensure that appropriate community input is considered in the process,” he said.

“While I am focussing on understanding Council’s financial situation, it’s important that Council continues to engage the community on key operational issues,” Persson said.

Council will be using Local Infrastructure Contributions (developer contributions) to fund the playspaces at Gwandalan and San Remo.

Sue Murray