Update on community consultation

Over 130 individual survey responses, 400 survey site visitors and 1000 project website views were recorded for the Beth Boyd Park community engagement that closed on 31 August 2020.

Promoted through social media, site signage, Council’s website and 600 distributed newsletters, the engagement response highlights a strong community interest in Beth Boyd Park and broader Thorneside Foreshore Precinct along with its naturally wonderful foreshore setting.

Priorities identified by the community included;

• Foreshore experience improvements
• Additional shade
• Additional seating

Foreshore experience improvements were further described by respondents with comments such as maintaining the natural setting, providing additional sand, considering better ways to view the bay, enhancing foreshore water play opportunities, reinforcing connections with bay through signage, sculptural play and other elements.

Other nominated priorities included educational and interpretive signage, improvements to the existing sandstone block circle, and public art and lighting.

A focus of the engagement process was to identify the community’s preference for new play space themes and types of play experiences.

The clear choice for new play space theme was ‘maritime’ at almost double the next option of ‘coastal grasses’. Other suggestions included themes for birdlife, bush, and imaginative and completely natural themes. Preferred play activities included nature-based play, large scale climbing elements and dynamic play such as swings, rockers, spinners and the like.

Following almost 20 years of service, the boat’s end of life and is now upon us with removal planned for late 2020 or early 2021. Unfortunately, Council is unable to maintain the boat in its current form or location due to its poor structural integrity and position within the coastal protection area. Council plans on providing a newer and bigger play boat structure within the upgraded play area.

Work is now underway to further develop park upgrade designs with construction planned for next financial year, subject to Council’s budget approval.