Central Coast Council’s 2020-2025 Playspace Strategy has seen more than $1.7M of upgrades so far this year.
Playspaces at 14 locations across the Central Coast including Budgewoi, Berkeley Vale, Woy Woy Bay, Koolewong, Wyongah, Toukley, Killarney Vale, Tuggerah, Terrigal, Blue Haven, Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah have all been part of Council’s upgrade program.
To support these upgrades, the Australian Government provided $970,000 to fully fund nine of them through Phase 3 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Ten playspaces, which were closed for upgrades in March, are now open to the community, including Mackenzie Reserve in Budgewoi.
An additional four playspaces in Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah were also renewed to provide upgraded recreational facilities for the community and visitors.
These renewals have seen innovative and inclusive recreational upgrades including a ninja warrior course, fitness stations, new concrete pathways to connect the playspaces, park furniture and the inclusion of rubber softfall.
Director Community and Culture Melanie Smith said Council’s Playspace Strategy ensured playspace assets were maintained through a renewal program based on the age of equipment and its condition that was also informed by community feedback.
“Council was involved in the working group for developing the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play Guidelines 2019, a collaborative initiative to ensure new and upgraded playspaces are inclusive and accessible for everyone,” she said.
“These guidelines were developed with extensive consultation with advocacy and advisory groups, parents and educators and qualified industry experts.
“Following the guidelines, Council completed an independent access appraisal on all its playspaces and the inclusive features across the 2023 upgrades we’re seeing now are part of this program.”
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said the Federal Government was pleased to be supporting playspace renewals across the Central Coast.
“Community infrastructure like playspaces promote increased wellbeing and healthy lifestyles,” he said.
“I thank Central Coast Council for its work ensuring playspaces across the region are inclusive and accessible.
“I look forward to working alongside Central Coast Council to continue to deliver for the people of the Central Coast.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart said playspaces and parks played an important role in the lives of community members and visitors.
“The playspaces that have become significantly valuable to the way we socialise, keep active and engage as a community, in the areas of Woongarrah and Hamlyn Terrace were built at the same time to accommodate development in the area,” he said.
“They have all since reached the end of their life cycle requiring renewal upgrades which will be inclusive and intergenerational with new play experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone this Summer.”
Recent 2023 local level classification playspaces upgrades have included: Hamlyn Terrace Sporting Fields, Skyhawk Reserve in Hamlyn Terrace, Woongarrah Oval and Mataram Ridge Reserve.
Other playspace locations on the 2023 renewal upgrades list are: Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi; Bluebell Park, Berkeley Vale; Gurdon Reserve, Woy Woy Bay; Koolewong Foreshore Reserve; Oakland Ave Playspace, Wyongah; Osborne Park, Toukley; Pioneer Park, Killarney Vale; Tonkiss St Playspace, Tuggerah; Wycombe Rd Playspace, Terrigal; and a playspace at Blue Haven will be re-established from Birdwood Ave to McKellar Blvd.
For more information and a map of playspaces across the region go online to: centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/playspaces
Source:
Central Coast Council