Open Space & Recreation Needs Study
We want your ideas about open space and your recreational needs in North Sydney!
Consultation 12 May to 23 June 2024
We know how important open space and recreational opportunities are for the health and well-being of our community. However North Sydney has challenges to deliver new open space due to limited land availability and high costs. It is therefore important that Council take a considered, strategic approach to future open space and recreation planning and provision.
To help guide our discussion, we have identified the following themes:
1. Dealing with our open space deficit
89% of our community live in high and medium density housing and rely heavily on public open space, with more needed in the future to cater for our increasing population. We would therefore like your ideas on what kind of open space you are missing, and whether you have any ideas about spaces which could be repurposed such as non-council owned facilities, roads and car parks (such as street play).
2. Management and use of our open space
With limited open space available, it is important that we take an equitable and balanced approach to its management. Our parks and reserves are used by a variety of groups such as schools, dog owners and personal trainers. Our foreshore areas are in high demand for events, and there are no permits or fees required for community or commercial gatherings of under 60 people. We want your ideas on how these groups should be managed and how you think Council could best manage New Years Eve to balance the need of visitors and residents.
3. Providing opportunities for organised sport
Council plays a key role in supporting organised sports by providing sportsgrounds and specialist sporting facilities. We want to hear from you about how we can increase capacity and use our existing facilities more efficiently, such as through use of synthetic fields, redesign, lighting or partnerships with schools.
4. Increasing participation
The benefits of access to open space are well known. Council wants to ensure that we all have access to open space regardless of age and ability. We want to understand if there's anything that prevents you from participating more regularly in sport and recreation, and if there are any suggestions you have for enhancements of a particular space to increase your use of that space.
For more information, go to our discussion paper Open Space and Recreational Needs Study. If you need help accessing it or would like to view a hard copy version, call 02 9936 8100.
The information we collect will help to identify the needs and aspirations of the North Sydney community and will be used to develop our Open Space and Recreational Needs Strategy for the next 10 years.
Wider Engagement
Council is seeking feedback on five Discussion Papers (Creativity and Culture, Economic Development, Integrated Transport, Open Space and Recreation, and Social Inclusion) via online surveys (open 12 May – 23 June) and dedicated community forums.
Your feedback on these Informing Strategies will be combined, along with Housing, Environment and Governance to form our new 2025-2035 Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Programs and Operational Plans. They will determine our priorities and ensure that Council’s resources are focused on delivering outcomes needed and wanted by our community.
Council is preparing a Needs Study to identify strategic directions and priorities to inform the preparation of a new Open Space & Recreation Strategy. The Strategy will provide a road map for how the Council will deliver open spaces and recreation facilities that meet the current and future needs of residents, workers, and visitors. Council has engaged Ross Planning to prepare the Needs Study.
Open spaces are places like parks, playgrounds, sport fields, courts, bushland areas and walking tracks that we can all use and enjoy. They're important because they make our community more liveable and sustainable. Not only do open spaces give us a place to play, socialise and have fun, but they also have a bunch of other benefits. They can help us stay healthy, boost our economy, and even help the environment.
Background
Council's existing Recreation Needs Study (2015) and Open Space Provision Strategy (2008) are outdated and there is a pressing need to address deficiencies in the open space and recreation network across the North Sydney local government area (LGA).
There are many significant changes currently impacting the LGA and these changes highlight the need for Council to take a considered, strategic approach to future open space and recreation planning and provision. The Needs Study provides the opportunity to assess these changes and their impacts, as well as use the results of this assessment to inform decision-making about future open space, sport and recreation facility provision and development.
STAGE 1 - NEEDS STUDY
The Needs Study will assess the current supply and demand for open space and recreation facilities. This will provide Council with a strong, evidence-based framework and strategic direction for the ongoing provision, use and management of our open space and recreation facilities for at least the next 10 years. This will help create a connected existing supply against demonstrated needs, shortfalls in provision and likely future requirements can be identified. Further, Council can plan for additional open space and recreation facilities that meet these identified needs.
Early Engagement
- community survey - closed 3 December 2023
- user group survey - closed 3 December 2023