What was the process for this land to become a council park?

    Council adopted the South East Thornlands Structure Plan in 2010 which then became an amendment to the Redlands Planning Scheme featuring Thornlands Community Park. Council subsequently purchased land for park uses for the growing Thornlands community.

    What are the planned features for Thornlands Community Park?

    • Planned park features include a playground, youth zone, picnic and BBQ facilities, pathways, seating and shade.

    What community engagement activities have occurred for the planned features?

    • Public consultation commenced in February 2017 with direct engagement with community and stakeholders on the park layout and activities. This included web surveys and social media, community mail-outs and a community day in the park. The park engagement is ongoing with design development currently occurring based on community and stakeholder feedback.

    How was the community involved in the Stage 1 Thornlands Community Park design?

    In direct response to engagement feedback, the park concept plan was modified with the removal of proposed ‘Dog Off Leash Area’ and removal, of proposed parking on Condamine Crescent instead allowing for off-street parking located adjacent to Waterline Boulevard. Based on community feedback, the revised concept plan was finalised in June 2017. Further public consultation for the playground and youth zone was held March 2018 which included web, mail out and community day in the park. 

    What does Stage 1 of the park involve?

    • The park will be constructed in stages based on available budgets and funding. Stage 1 construction works will deliver the car park and roadside works to Waterline Boulevard, install new drainage, public toilet amenities, landscape work with some tree removals and extra plantings, plus other associated landscape works.

    When will construction for Stage 1 commence?

    • Construction for Stage 1 works will be commencing late April 2018. You may have already seen some early site preparation works.

    How long will construction take?

    • The construction of stage 1 is expected to take approximately four months. Weather permitting, the work is expected to be completed by late August 2018.

    What will the Stage 1 project cost?

    • Stage 1 works will cost $1.3 million.

    How many car spaces will there be in the carpark?

    • The off-street carpark will allow 39 regular spaces, plus five disabled parking spaces. A total of 44 spaces. There is also an allowance for commercial parking use, such as loading or unloading and uses such as coffee or food vans.

    Will the carpark have street lights and Will the carpark and will toilet lights stay on all night?

    Yes the carpark will have street lights to Australian Standards which ensures the safety of vehicles and users. Street lighting will stay on, but after hours facilities lighting will be controlled by timers. Council will consider the parks designated hours of usage and general safety of park users, before finalising these timed lighting controls.

    Why do we have to have the toilet in proximity to the houses?

    Best practice for the location and management of public space amenities, includes considerations of accessibility, safety, maintenance and servicing.
    The toilet has been located following considerable community consultation, and consideration of park planning, crime prevention principles and construction codes. The toilet is approximately 70 metres from property boundaries. 

    Could the amenities be moved away from the houses to the bush side of the park?

    • Public toilets are often ideally positioned close to roadsides and car parks to allow lighting, safety and crime prevention attributes and general ease of access.
    • The Thornlands Community Park public toilet amenity is designed to include all abilities access for people with disabilities. As such, its location is dictated by proximity and accessibility to both the Waterline Boulevard car park and playground areas.

    Will the toilet be locked at night and how often will they be cleaned?

    • The toilets will be locked in the evening and reopened by the cleaners early morning. The toilets will be cleaned each day in the morning.

    How will the park be maintained and how often will the park be mown?

    All public parks are subject to regular schedule of maintenance that includes mowing, regular cleaning and the daily securing of facilities where appropriate. This level of park will be mown fortnightly where possible. Weather conditions can affect mowing schedules but council returns to the schedule as quickly as possible.

    Will I be informed of future updates to this park?

    • The park engagement is ongoing with design development currently occurring based on community and stakeholder feedback.

    • Council will provide further updates to the community once the playground and youth zone draft concept plan is complete. Updates will also be provided at key milestones of the park.