Community consultation on Seymour Shaw Park masterplan to start sooner than envisaged and last longer

The masterplan proposes a new Active Sports Youth Precinct, including a skate park, basketball half-court and playground, while retaining 16 netball courts and eight tennis courts, which were under threat.

The council's Infrastructure Committee, at a meeting on July 12, decided to expedite the public exhibition of the plans, allowing community consultation for eight weeks, which is two weeks longer than originally envisaged.

Due to COVID, consultation will predominately be via the council's Join the Conversation website, with additional arrangements.

Cr Jack Boyd, who spearheaded the initiative said the masterplan would "deliver new infrastructure, better facilities and a vastly improved offering for users of all ages and abilities".

"I'm incredibly proud of the collaborative approach we have taken, incorporating the views of the community from the outset through our Stakeholder Reference Group and I'm looking forward to hearing the community's views," he said.

"Our community has borne the brunt of development over the past decade and this plan will create a community hub, with better sporting facilities and somewhere young people and families can enjoy open spaces, all within walking distance of public transport and the shopping centre".

A state government grant of $4.75 million will help fund the active youth precinct, playground and passive open space improvements and is required to be spent by December 2022.

Developer contribution funding of $370,000 is available this year.

Other short term works include sports field levelling and reconfiguration, bleacher seating, tennis court works, building improvements and Wandella Road off-street car parking.

Medium term works include reconfiguration of the war memorial area and improved car parking on Parkside Avenue.

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