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:

• Improving health and wellbeing of residents by connecting with nature and enjoying an outdoor activities,
• Improving physical health by providing space for exercising
• Supporting community connections by facilitating opportunities for social interaction
• Promoting a sense of place, belonging and community pride
• Enhancing child and youth development through play and recreation.

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:

• Safety assessments
• Condition of existing equipment
• Location in the vicinity of other recent renewals
• Community input and feedback
• Feedback from Council teams
• Guidance from various Council strategies and plans.

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.

Council has two fully fenced playgrounds: Ski Way Park in Oak Flats and Tullimbar Park on Balmoral Parade.

Additionally, there are partially fenced playgrounds at Mood Park, Central Park, and Village Green.

While fencing isn't deemed necessary for all playspaces due to limiting play opportunities and cost and maintenance, Council recognises the need for fencing in specific circumstances, such as supporting young children, parents supervising multiple children, or sites with high safety risk.

In response to community feedback and a recent Council resolution, we’re adding fencing to one playspace in each Council Ward. This will offer more options for parents and carers who need extra security for their children.

Fencing installation will begin in November 2024 at:
• Mood Park Playground – Corner of Tongarra Rd & Terry St, Albion Park
• Central Park Playground – 81 The Boulevarde, Oak Flats
• Collins Reserve Playground – Glider Ave, Blackbutt
• Reddall Reserve "Pirate" Playground – Reddall Pde, Lake Illawarra

All works are expected to be completed by mid-December 2024.

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.

Reporting local issues | Shellharbour Council (nsw.gov.au)

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.