Fenced Play Spaces Across the City
We’re excited to announce that we are installing boundary fencing to four existing playgrounds. One playground in each council ward.
We are investing in play spaces across the City.
Check out the latest play spaces that have opened around the City, they have been very popular! Make sure you get around to visit them all.
We’re excited to announce that we are installing boundary fencing to four existing playgrounds. One playground in each council ward.
This new playground will debut an exciting addition for the city: an accessible seesaw!
You'll also love the tower and slide, shaded swings, and fitness equipment.
The upgraded playground at Andrew Park will be fully fenced and feature a climbing tower with slide, an inclusive carousel, and nest and toddler swings!
As part of the Shell Cove Concept approval, Sophia Park will be upgraded to a place to play, meet friends and enjoy a family-friendly outdoor space.
Thank you to everyone that gave feedback during our consultation stage.
Have you visited the new playground yet?
It’s home to our exciting new addition, a hurricane swing! 🎉
🌟 Swing into Action! Jones Park Now Open!
Clermont Park is ready for play!
Jump into a world of outdoor exploration and adventure 🍃
🥳Let's play!
The Red Lamp Play space at Reddall Reserve is officially open!
Let's Play
by Eddie Hu
Are you up for the challenge?
The new Ninja park at Fred Ball Park is now open.
Collins Reserve new playspace, exercise equipment and sensory is now open. Come and play!
Reddall Reserve
Barrack Heights
Flinders
Albion Park
Albion Park
Albion Park
Oak Flats
Oak Flats
Albion Park
Barrack Point
Council recognises that well designed and well maintained public open spaces are becoming more valuable and necessary as a result of population growth, demographic change, urbanisation and climate change.
There has been significant community interest in play space renewals and these frequently asked questions have popped up in your feedback. We see this as an exciting opportunity to share how these decisions are made.
Shellharbour City Council provides a variety of recreation opportunities and is focused on providing accessible and enjoyable public places for our community to connect.
These spaces are important and provide a number of benefits, including:
Renewal refers to replacing like for like; for example, removing an older, unsafe play space and providing a new play space in the same location.
Upgrade refers to adding new elements; for example, providing a new play space where there was previously not one, or new resources such as picnic tables or shade.
We renew and upgrade play spaces to improve play experiences and meet the needs of the growing community. This ensures our city is vibrant, safe and inclusive.
The Shellharbour LGA has approximately 200 reserves, 107 of which include one or more play spaces. In total Council maintains 115 play spaces in the LGA.
To prioritise renewals, look at existing play spaces and opportunities in the area, with input from:
Council aims to provide an equitable spread of renewals throughout various suburbs so that all families can have access to new play equipment.
Each year, under Council’s Capital Program, a budget is received and allocated for capital projects including play space renewals. This is funded by general Council income. As such, there is a limit to the number that can be renewed in any given financial year.
Sometimes the play space renewals involve the upgrading of the space to a higher standard than previously provided so they can cater for a higher level of demand. When this occurs funding is also made available from the contributions Council receives from developers under our Infrastructure Contributions Plan.
Additional play space renewals are subject to funding from other sources such as grants.
For example, the McDonald Park play space at Albion Park Rail was identified for renewal through a review of parks in the western side of the city. This space was created to meet a district park short fall and is embellished to a district level. This play space was funded from a combination of general Council funds, developer contributions and a grant received from the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
These parks and reserves form a ‘hierarchy’ of open space, meaning that each area primarily services either the local, district or city-wide community. Each park or reserve generally offers facilities and amenities which relate to its level on the open space hierarchy; for example, in a park with greater size and community use, greater resources will be supplied.
While fencing isn't deemed necessary for all playspaces, Council recognises the need for fencing in specific circumstances, such as supporting young children, parents supervising multiple children, or sites with high safety risk.
Council provides full fenced playspaces at:
and partially fenced playspaces at:
Andrew Park (Johnston Street) in Warilla will be upgraded to feature a fully fenced play area as part of our playground renewal program. The new design will include a climbing tower with a slide, an inclusive carousel, and both nest and toddler swings, see designs and follow the project here. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
Inclusive playspaces consider as many needs as possible. They provide a welcoming place where people feel comfortable yet challenged, and remove obstacles and barriers that prevent people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities (both physical and mental) from playing.
Inclusive playspaces encourage everyone to stay as long as they choose. A playspace is more than just equipment. It is the entire setting used and enjoyed as part of the play experience. Inclusive playspaces are designed to be easy to access, provide a range of play options and challenges, and have appropriate facilities in a comfortable environment.
At its Council meeting of 25 September 2018 Council agreed to applying the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play (ECP) Guideline with all playspace renewals and upgrades across the city incorporating inclusive elements to our playspaces. The ECP Guideline is a best practice resource for councils, leaders, landscape architects and community. It is a reference guide for creating playspaces, designed to include everyone in the community. At the heart of Everyone Can Play is the declaration that play is for everyone – regardless of age, ability or cultural background.
Inclusive playgrounds are designed to be useable and exciting for children with a range of of abilities. Since 2018 staff have incorporated the following considerations to ensure inclusive elements are a key factor in our playspace renewals and upgrades:
Council maintains a large number of parks and reserves throughout the LGA and aims to offer a variety of recreational opportunities for our community. The Play Illawarra website: https://playillawarra.com.au/parks is a useful tool to find out what facilities are available at each park, reserve and play space.
Council uses the park hierarchy to determine if elements such as shade, lighting and water stations are appropriate at any specific park.
The consideration of natural and built shade is considered in all play space renewal and upgrade projects, in accordance with Council’s adopted Shade in Playspaces Policy. So far, shade has been in the form of plantings (some of which are yet to mature), equipment selection and also shelters. In some instances, Council requires developers to provide shade and other playground elements when they deliver their parks.
Lighting sources are considered when master planning open spaces. Generally, Council does not provide lighting in our parks from an asset provision and maintenance perspective and to reduce light spill potential on neighbouring properties. Community concerns about antisocial behaviour and requests for lighting are raised with Council’s Community Safety Officer and in turn the Shellharbour Crime Prevention Partnership (SCPP). The SCPP is made up of Council Compliance Officers and NSW Police.
Council acknowledges the popularity of water refill stations and as such have included them with a number of suitable play space upgrades that have occurred across the City. These elements are also considered when master planning open spaces.
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The best way to report an issue in a park or reserve is by lodging a request through Council’s eServices portal. Once you have submitted your request, you will receive a request number to track your enquiry.
The best way to provide feedback on a park or reserve is by lodging a Customer Request through Council’s online portal. Once you have submitted your request, you will receive a request number to track your enquiry.
Council’s Open Space and Recreation Needs Study and Strategy is the blueprint for open spaces across the City. The Strategy provides actions on how we can improve these spaces to best meet the needs of a growing population. You can read more about the actions that specifically relate to play spaces in Direction 1: Shape open spaces to encourage public recreation and relaxation
We know from community feedback that play spaces are highly valued, and it is a priority to provide a variety of safe and inclusive play opportunities across the City.
Over the past few years, we have been working with the community to deliver improved play spaces, like Red Lamp Park, Lake Illawarra and Collins Reserve, Blackbutt. In some cases, improving play spaces has meant that equipment nearby is permanently retired.
Each year play spaces with equipment are independently audited. The audit includes an inspection of equipment that is evaluated against Australian Standards. The audit identifies any maintenance and decommissioning required. In addition to the independent audits, Council staff also inspect and carry out maintenance on play equipment throughout the year.
Recent inspections by both staff and external consultants identified equipment at the below playgrounds have reached the end of their useful life.
In September 2023, certain pieces of equipment at the below four locations will be removed and retired:
If your feedback relates to a specific location, please tell us.
18 September, 2019
Kayla says:
Fenced parks for children with not just special need but also children who tend to explore More this will eliminate the extra stress
16 September, 2019
Luana Castro says:
Gated parks where parents and grandparents can relax as the children play
14 September, 2019
Chrissi says:
An all inclusive, fenced play area.
14 September, 2019
Tory says:
an all inclusive fenced in plsygro u nd please
14 September, 2019
Melody says:
An all-inclusive, fenced play area.
Thank you.
13 September, 2019
Aye coquibus says:
Fenced park
13 September, 2019
Debbie. says:
All inclusive fenced area.
equipment for children with special needs.
13 September, 2019
Ros says:
I would like an inclusive, fenced area
Thank you
13 September, 2019
Mon says:
An all inclusive fenced in play area :)
13 September, 2019
Alyssa says:
Reddall Reserve (windang st) an all inclusive play space that is fenced to minimise dangers for all children including with special needs
13 September, 2019
Alyssa says:
Reddall Reserve (windang st) an all inclusive play space that is fenced to minimise dangers for all children including with special needs
11 September, 2019
zus says:
At the Skiway park an.upgrade similar to Dawes pk which is inclusive of a few age groups would b lovely.
29 November, 2018
Dan says:
Dawes Park , leave place to play soccer etc, More shade areas, fix tennis court, stop motorbikes.
16 November, 2018
Julie says:
For Dawes Park, something similar to Little Park would be great. Need more shade areas and replace the cover over the BBQ that was removed.
14 November, 2018
Dani says:
Mood park and frasers reserve will benefit from removing the bark and replacing it with the soft fall rubber. Water stations and flying fox
14 November, 2018
Emma says:
Playground areas must be partly or fully shaded so they can be used in summer.
12 November, 2018
Miga says:
Mow the grass more often at shearwater drive park. Replace woodchip with softplay. Empty bin more regularly and maintain equipment.
12 November, 2018
Miga says:
Mow the grass more often at shearwater drive park. Replace woodchip with softplay. Empty bin more regularly and maintain equipment.
12 November, 2018
Supercarlo says:
Fosters Park Flinders needs a complete overhaul.Equipment very old(at least 19 years old).Replace bark chips with soft fall surface.
12 November, 2018
Jackie says:
Secure fencing, picnic tables, seating and shade. Natural elements are nice too. Keep the trees, build around them.
12 November, 2018
Gemma says:
Rubber flooring, shade sails, toilets and seating areas close by. More inclusive play grounds for children with a disability.
12 November, 2018
Sarah says:
Shade sails, fences, toilet blocks and tables and chairs are essential for any good play area. Small cafe is a bonus!
12 November, 2018
Pamela says:
In all play areas they need sun protection on equipment much healthier for everyone.
12 November, 2018
Chad says:
Would just like to see the same amount of money spent on the new park at shellharbour on these new parks.
Especially Reddall
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
Name | Recreation Planner |
---|---|
Phone | 4221 6111 |
council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au | |
Website | www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/ |
Our office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday
Customer Service phone: 4221 6111 www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au