Curtis Park Playground Expansion Concept Report
At the Ordinary Council meeting held on Wednesday 24 July 2024 Council endorsed the Curtis Park Playground Expansion Report to be placed on Public Exhibition for a period of 28 days. The exhibition period commences on Thursday 1 August and ends on Wednesday 28 August 2024.
The proposed Curtis Park Playground Expansion will grow the existing Adventure Playground at Curtis Park by fencing a 1.6-acre area and adding additional play equipment in a staged expansion.
Background information:
The Adventure Playground at Curtis Park in the heart of Armidale opened in 2020. It is very popular and widely used by families throughout the community. However, since it opened Council has received feedback that the area should be fully fenced and that there is not enough play equipment to suit all age ranges and abilities.
A concept report (attached) has been produced for a staged expansion to be delivered as funding becomes available.
It is proposed to enclose an area of 1.6 acres, extending from the northern end of the car park at the Visitor Information Centre across to Faulkner Street, joining into the existing playground fences. This will create a large safe area for children of various ages to play. New play equipment will be added. The existing play equipment to the north of the car park will be removed and repurposed.
Sectioning off this area addresses the 2018 NSW Coroners recommendations in relation to fencing and the location of equipment close to creek/ water bodies.
Curtis Park Playground Expansion Concept Report:
The proposed Curtis Park Playground Expansion will provide a fenced safe zone with natural play elements that supplement existing play experiences with strong links to the Creeklands through theming and footpath connections.
Design Objectives
• Provide safe fenced zone with gates
• Include natural play elements
• Supplement existing play equipment to provide diverse play opportunities
• Add bespoke elements that invite imaginative play
• Provide physical and environmental connection to Creeklands
• Provide interpretation elements to link to Creeklands
• Provide opportunities for aboriginal artists input to facilitate connection to place
• Create an identifiable ’place’ through consistent treatments of paving, furniture and architecture
• Use native plants for interpretation and authentic natural setting.
Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au and marked 'Curtis Park Playground Expansion Report'.
Submissions must be received by Wednesday 28 August 2024.
Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Draft LEP amendment must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Draft LEP is determined. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.
