Copacabana’s Susan Fahey Park has been transformed into a new and inclusive playspace, thanks to a $500,000 joint investment from the NSW Government and Central Coast Council, but not everyone is happy with the results.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the new playspace, supported by the NSW Government’s $20M Everyone Can Play program, is perfect for people of all ages.
“There’s something for everyone at Susan Fahey Park – from a ground-level carousel, to outdoor chess, table tennis tables and a sensory garden with scented plants and musical instruments,” Crouch said.
“I have no doubt this fantastic new space will be highly utilised by the hundreds of families in Copacabana.”
The upgrade has not been without controversy, with residents gathering at the park in June 2020 to protest the proposed removal of a brace of casuarina trees as works proceeded.
At that time, they were successful in saving around 30 casuarinas at the 11th hour.
But community activist Joy Cooper said while the park has upgraded play equipment, no attention has been paid to the two endangered ecological communities (EEC) which are also in the park.
“Both Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodlands and the Swamp Mahogany Paperbark Forest are endangered ecological communities which deserve attention and protection,” Cooper said.
“It appears to me that the current park upgrade has in fact encroached into these EEC areas.
“Congratulations needs to go to the young residents who joined others to advocate for the retention of the 30 or more magnificent she-oaks which form a lovely shady grove for children to play and enjoy nature in.
“It is clear from the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Council administrators have a legislative obligation to ensure endangered ecological communities are protected.”
Fellow activist Elaine Norling said while a few of the random other types of trees were sacrificed to the upgrade, saving the casuarinas was a victory the community shouldn’t have had to fight for.
“As to the park now, I think the chess table is poorly placed – it should be in a secluded corner and as people would have to supply their own chess pieces I fear if is a waste of cash,” she said.
“There is rubber tyre shredded under the kids’ feet in the enclosed area; we shouldn’t be doing that – it’s not ecologically sound.
“Also, we were told the original old footpath which arcs around between the park on the lower side and an endangered ecological area would be fixed.
“More money could have been spent fixing up the endangered area to get rid of encroaching foreign species and the junk in there.
“That being said, the kids seem to love the park.”
All the same, Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said community consultation was key to getting the public park design right.
“Council listened closely to feedback from the community throughout the design and planning process and is thrilled to deliver a high-quality facility that reflects their wants and needs,” he said.
“Outdoor playgrounds in the Central Coast region currently remain open for exercise purposes, and Council is working to ensure as many areas as possible are available to support social distancing.”
Terry Collins