Have your say about the future of Wollongong’s recreation areas, such as Port Kembla Pool. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Wollongong’s beaches, pools, playgrounds and leisure centres are the beating heart of our community.
They’re where we go to relax, work out, catch up with friends, or just get the kids out of the house.
While Mother Nature does a lot of the heavy lifting – check out the sunrise from Flagstaff Hill sometime – managing the many beaches, pools, indoor sports venues and playgrounds in our city is up to Wollongong City Council.
The future of more than 150 playspaces, nine ocean rock pools, eight supervised community pools, two leisure centres, and 34 patrolled and unpatrolled beaches along our coastline is up for debate.
Their maintenance chews through funds and resources, and our growing community means more work has to be done to make sure they’re fit for purpose.
Three 20-year strategies that will shape the planning and management of these spaces need your input.
Surveys related to the Beach Services and Surf Sports Strategy, Playspace Strategy, Aquatics and Indoor Sports Strategy are all live on Wollongong City Council’s website until the end of January.
“Living in Wollongong we have some of the best beaches and ocean rock pools in the world on our doorstep,” Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said.
“It’s no secret, and that’s why more and more people are choosing to make Wollongong home and to raise their families here.
“With that comes a greater demand on council resources to manage our pools, beaches, playgrounds and indoor sport and leisure facilities.
“At a time when electronic devices play an ever-increasing role in our lives, they’re vital to the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our residents.
“As our population increases and our suburbs continue to evolve, we need to make sure services and facilities truly reflect what our residents need and want now, and in the years to come.
“These are obviously major strategies that will guide what we do for the next two decades, which is why we are engaging on these issues from December right through to February when people are out and enjoying these locations and services.
“We want to understand people’s experiences, ideas and suggestions to shape our approach to what is an essential offering for our community.”
The council is looking for feedback on what could be improved and how these spaces can be made more accessible and inclusive.
Usage data from the surveys will help inform future decisions over the next two decades, particularly in relation to aging infrastructure and facilities, to prioritise needs of the community and responsible, sustainable allocation of council resources.
In addition to the surveys, consultants and an engagement team will host a number of in-person opportunities for people to share their thoughts, including targeted workshops and pop-ups, as well as information sessions for organisations and user groups.
To get involved, head over to the council’s engagement website.
