Council’s 2020-2025 Playspace Strategy provides strategic direction for the development and sustainable management of playspaces on the Central Coast, which have so far this year seen over $1.7M of upgrades.

Playspaces at fourteen locations across the Central Coast including Budgewoi, Berkley Vale, Woy Woy Bay, Koolewong, Wyongah, Toukley, Killarney Vale, Tuggerah, Terrigal, Blue Haven, Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah have all been part of Council’s upgrade program.  

To support these upgrades, the Australian Government provided $970,000 to fully fund nine of these playspaces through Phase 3 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. 

Ten playspaces, which were closed for upgrades in March, are now open to the community, including Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi district.

An additional four playspaces in Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah were also renewed to provide upgraded recreational facilities for the community and visitors. These renewals have included innovative and inclusive recreational upgrades including a ninja warrior course, fitness stations, and importantly new concrete pathways to connect the playspaces, park furniture, plus, the inclusion of rubber softfall within the playspaces.  

Central Coast Council Director Community and Culture, Melanie Smith said Council’s Playspace Strategy ensures playspace assets are maintained through a renewal program based on the age of equipment and its condition that is also informed by community feedback. 

“A scheduled program of works with regular reviews to maintain, upgrade and – where necessary – remove old, vandalised, or broken equipment have resulted in $1,766,396 of renewal upgrades at fourteen playspaces across the Central Coast in 2023,” Ms Smith said. 

“Council was involved in the working group for developing the NSW Government’s ‘Everyone Can Play’ Guidelines 2019, a collaborative initiative to ensure new and upgraded playspaces are inclusive and accessible for everyone.  These guidelines were developed with extensive consultation with advocacy and advisory groups, parents and educators and qualified industry experts.

“Following the guidelines, Council completed an independent access appraisal on all its playspaces and the inclusive features across the 2023 upgrades we’re seeing now are part of this program.”

Playspace locations in 2023 renewal upgrades:
•    Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi (District)
•    Bluebell Park Playspace, Berkeley Vale (Local)
•    Gurdon Reserve playspace, Woy Woy Bay (Local)
•    Koolewong Foreshore Reserve, Koolewong (Local)
•    Oakland Ave Playspace, Wyongah (Local)
•    Osborne Park Playspace, Toukley (Local)
•    Pioneer Park Playspace, Killarney Vale (Local)
•    Tonkiss St Payspace, Tuggerah (Local)
•    Wycombe Rd Playspace, Terrigal (Local)
•    McKellar Blvd Playspace, Blue Haven (relocation) from Birdwood Ave to McKellar Boulevarde (Local)
•    Hamlyn Terrace Sporting Fields, Hamlyn Terrace 
•    Skyhawk Ave Reserve, Hamlyn Terrace 
•    Woongarrah Sports Facility, Woongarrah 
•    Mataram Ridge Reserve, Woongarrah 

The Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid said the Australian Government is pleased to be supporting playspace renewals across the Central Coast.

“Community infrastructure like playspaces promote increased wellbeing and healthy lifestyles,” Dr Reid said.

“I thank Central Coast Council for its work ensuring playspaces across the region are inclusive and accessible.

“I look forward to working alongside Central Coast Council to continue to deliver for the people of the Central Coast”.

Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said playspaces and parks play an important role in the lives of our community and visitors. 

“The playspaces that have become significantly valuable to the way we socialise, keep active and engage as a community, in the areas of Woongarrah and Hamlyn Terrace were built at the same time to accommodate development in the area,” Mr Hart said. 

“They have all since reached the end of their life cycle requiring renewal upgrades which will be inclusive and intergenerational with new play experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone this Summer.”

The recent 2023 local level classification playspaces upgrades have included: 

Hamlyn Terrace Sporting Fields Playspace. Your local playspace located at 80 Minnesota Rd, Hamlyn Terrace required the existing equipment at this site to be demolished and construction of a new playspace which includes new play equipment featuring a play unit with slide, spring toy, rocker, spider net climbing frame, monkey bars and nest swing. An outdoor fitness station to bring together outdoor fun and fitness that is accessible for all in the new playspace with gym equipment that meets the needs of all fitness levels and age groups. Supporting infrastructure includes a concrete pathway to connect the playspace, park furniture, plus rubber softfall into and around the playspace to promote accessibility and inclusion. Natural shade within the local playspace design is provided from existing trees.

Skyhawk Ave Reserve, Hamlyn Terrace. Your local playspace located at 81W Skyhawk Ave, Hamlyn Terrace has been upgraded to include an outdoor fitness station to inspire community health and vitality with gym equipment that meets the needs of all fitness levels and age groups. This required minimal excavation and construction of the new fitness area which includes a box jump, step up, sit up board, leg lift/dip bar, pull up bar, parallel bars, trapeze rings, push up bars and chin up bars. Supporting infrastructure includes a concrete pathway to connect the fitness station, plus rubber softfall into and around the area to promote accessibility and inclusion.

Woongarrah Oval Playspace. Your local playspace located at 57 Hakone Rd, Woongarrah has required the existing equipment at this site to be demolished excluding the large spider net climbing frame. Construction of a new playspace with new play equipment includes an exciting ninja warrior course that loops around the playspace. This ninja training circuit helps to master scaling and balancing skills, the new playspace features available for play include a nest swing, play unit with double slide, bridge, and rope walk. Supporting infrastructure includes a concrete pathway to connect the playspace, natural stone seating, plus rubber softfall into and around the playspace to promote accessibility and inclusion. Natural shade within the local playspace design is provided from existing trees.

Mataram Ridge Reserve Playspace. Your local playspace located at 61 Mountain View Drive, Woongarrah required the existing equipment at this site to be demolished and construction of a new playspace which includes new play equipment featuring a play unit with slide, climbing wall and rope climbing course, standard swing, junior swing, nest swing and rocker. Supporting infrastructure includes a concrete pathway to connect the playspace, natural stone seating and park furniture, plus rubber softfall into and around the playspace to promote accessibility and inclusion. Natural shade within the local playspace design is provided from existing trees.

To view the Central Coast Playspace Strategy, playspace FAQs and the region’s playspace map visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/playspaces