Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan
Consultation has concluded
Thank you for you interest, this consultation is now closed.
The draft 'Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan' aims to provide Council with policy direction over the next 10 years in the planning, provision, management and investment relating to ‘open space’ sporting and recreation facilities and services for both our residents and visitors.
The way our community uses local recreation facilities and open space is changing. There are significant challenges to providing the diverse range of open spaces and recreation in the City.
Also, some of the facilities are ageing and do not meet modern standards. Council has insufficient resources to maintain or renew all of the current facilities as is.
There are opportunities for the new ways of providing and using open space and recreation facilities in the future, in a way that meets community needs in the fairest way possible.
Residents are encouraged to be part of the conversation about the future of open space and recreation in the Blue Mountains and to have your say.
- View: The draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan and supporting documents in the 'Document Library' to the right.
Thank you for you interest, this consultation is now closed.
The draft 'Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan' aims to provide Council with policy direction over the next 10 years in the planning, provision, management and investment relating to ‘open space’ sporting and recreation facilities and services for both our residents and visitors.
The way our community uses local recreation facilities and open space is changing. There are significant challenges to providing the diverse range of open spaces and recreation in the City.
Also, some of the facilities are ageing and do not meet modern standards. Council has insufficient resources to maintain or renew all of the current facilities as is.
There are opportunities for the new ways of providing and using open space and recreation facilities in the future, in a way that meets community needs in the fairest way possible.
Residents are encouraged to be part of the conversation about the future of open space and recreation in the Blue Mountains and to have your say.
- View: The draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan and supporting documents in the 'Document Library' to the right.
-
Council adopts ten year plan on parks pools and play
Share Council adopts ten year plan on parks pools and play on Facebook Share Council adopts ten year plan on parks pools and play on Twitter Share Council adopts ten year plan on parks pools and play on Linkedin Email Council adopts ten year plan on parks pools and play link30 July 2018Blue Mountains City Council has adopted the Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan, and supporting Play Guidelines, which will guide how Council provides and manages open space and sport and recreation facilities and services over the next ten or more years for the local community and visitors.
Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said it was clear that the type of open space and recreation services we offer in the future is an important issue for community and the City.
“I am confident that the final Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan reflects the community priorities and feedback”, he said.
“The plan recognises that the way the community uses local sport and recreation facilities and open spaces is changing and that many of our recreation facilities are ageing and do not meet modern standards.”
The Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan has been developed following extensive research and consultation with community and other stakeholders on recreation participation and priorities.
Council received over 1900 submissions from the community - a total of 644 original submissions were received plus 1354 template submissions. Submissions were made on every theme in the draft Plan, with the large majority of community comments on the themes of pools and play:
- 99% of submissions (616 original submissions plus 1354 template submissions) made comment on the theme of POOLS; and
- 69% of submissions (55 original submissions plus 1320 template submissions) made comment on the theme of PLAY
The Mayor said, “I would like to thank residents and others for taking the time and effort to make a submission. Consulting with the community is important and we appreciate your feedback.”
The earlier draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan had proposed some of the individual pools within some centres being closed or modified. However, the Council has considered alternative options to retain different pools, including Katoomba’s 50-metre outdoor pool, in response to the high level of community interest and feedback:
BLACKHEATH POOL: Council will retain the free-form and toddler pools at the Blackheath Pool for the time being. Council is looking at options to extend the life of these pools and will continue to monitor of any further deterioration of the pool structures, in consultation with engineers.
LAWSON POOL: Council will retain the two children’s pools at Lawson Swim Centre. A new filtration system will be connected to the existing children’s pools, with minor improvements to the surrounds of the children’s pool.
KATOOMBA POOL: Council is reviewing options to retain the 50m outdoor pool however the outdoor children's pools have deteriorated to the point where they can’t be retained. The children’s pools would have to be completely replaced with a new and separate filtration system at a significant cost OR instead, Council could invest in the outdoor pool area in other ways.
A separate report, on the options to extend the life of the 50m outdoor pool at Katoomba and the children’s pools at Blackheath, is expected to be presented to the Council meeting in September 2018. This report will be informed by a recent survey of Katoomba Pool users which showed strong support for the replacement of the children's pools with a small pool integrated with a water playground as well as providing more options for teenagers.
“I think we have got the balance right for now”, said the Mayor. “The Strategic Plan recognises that Council needs to refocus on what the community needs, now and into the future, where it invests and how it maintains open space.
“We will continue to consider how we provide the best possible mix of sport and recreation services across the City that meets community needs in the longer term while living within our means.
“This includes ongoing investigations into options to extend the life of Katoomba and Blackheath outdoor pools.”
The plan is comprehensive and will guide the Council in the delivery of a broad range of different sport and recreation themes such as walking; bushwalking; parks; play; urban cycling; mountain biking; pools; cliff sports; dog exercise; sports grounds; and sports courts.
For example, one approach is to invest in larger, more interesting play areas in the district and larger parks across the City. It also looks at funding options and potential partnerships with other providers, such as NPWS, sporting groups, and the NSW Office of Sport and Recreation.
“Our approach to providing recreation facilities over the next ten years aims to provide the best possible services within available resources that meet the changing recreation needs of the community as well as industry standards, now and in the future”, said the Mayor.
-
Close of Submissions - Extended to close of business, Monday 15 January 2018
Share Close of Submissions - Extended to close of business, Monday 15 January 2018 on Facebook Share Close of Submissions - Extended to close of business, Monday 15 January 2018 on Twitter Share Close of Submissions - Extended to close of business, Monday 15 January 2018 on Linkedin Email Close of Submissions - Extended to close of business, Monday 15 January 2018 linkBlue Mountains City Council would like to advise that the close of submissions for the Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan has been extended to close of business on Monday 15 January 2017.
-
Media Release: Have your say on Parks, Pools and Play
Share Media Release: Have your say on Parks, Pools and Play on Facebook Share Media Release: Have your say on Parks, Pools and Play on Twitter Share Media Release: Have your say on Parks, Pools and Play on Linkedin Email Media Release: Have your say on Parks, Pools and Play link20 October 2017
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF PARKS POOLS AND PLAY
Blue Mountains City Council is seeking community comment on its ten year plan for providing open space and sport and recreation facilities for the local community and visitors.
The purpose of the draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan is to guide how the Council provides and manages open space and sport and recreation facilities and services over the next ten or more years.
Council’s current approach to providing open space and recreation facilities is not sustainable. The way the community uses local sport and recreation facilities and open spaces is changing. Many of these facilities are ageing and do not meet modern standards.
The draft plan explores a broad range of different sport and recreation themes such as walking, cycling, play, parks, pools, nature based recreation, organised and informal sports, as well as funding options and potential partnerships with other providers, for example, NPWS, sporting groups, and the NSW Office of Sport and Recreation.
The draft plan draws on important data including, the current and projected demographics of the Blue Mountains, changing community needs, the demand for recreation, and patterns and trends in how people use sport and recreation facilities and open spaces.
Council has done a lot of research to inform the draft plan and the options for the best possible mix of sport and recreation services across the City. Now we are asking the community, have we got the balance right?
The draft plan has attracted a high level of community interest in the proposed changes to Council’s swim centres, especially Katoomba outdoor pool. It is important that the community is aware that no decision has been made to close Katoomba outdoor pool.
At its meeting on 17 October, the Council approved the draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan being placed on public exhibition. This means the plan and other supporting information are made available to the public to view and comment on. The option of closing the Katoomba outdoor pool is one of many proposals in the draft plan, which considers all of the swim centres, not just Katoomba.
The Blue Mountains has five swim centres which is much higher than other areas with a higher population. The infrastructure at all of the swim centres is ageing, many facilities do not meet modern industry or community standards, and require significant investment to replace or repair. Katoomba outdoor pool, for example, will cost an estimated $6.8 million to replace the pipework, filtrations systems and the pool shell.
Council aims to provide the best possible services to meet the needs of the community, now and in the future, within available resources.
Residents are encouraged to be informed and be part of the conversation about the future of sport and recreation facilities and open spaces in the Blue Mountains.
The draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan is on public exhibition for community comment for six weeks until Wednesday 6 December 2017. To view the draft plan and to make a submission visit www.bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/openspace. Printed copies of the draft Plan are available at Council’s Katoomba & Springwood offices and branch libraries. Submissions are accepted by email to council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au and Locked Bag 1008 Katoomba NSW 2780.
Photo: Blue Mountains City Council is seeking community comment on its ten year plan for providing open space and sport and recreation facilities for the local community and visitors. Have we got the balance right?
-
Notice of minor amendments to Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan for public exhibition purposes
Share Notice of minor amendments to Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan for public exhibition purposes on Facebook Share Notice of minor amendments to Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan for public exhibition purposes on Twitter Share Notice of minor amendments to Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan for public exhibition purposes on Linkedin Email Notice of minor amendments to Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan for public exhibition purposes linkCouncil would like to advise of minor amendments to the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan and Draft Play Guidelines prior to the documents being placed on public exhibition.
-
Open Space & Recreation in the Blue Mountains
Share Open Space & Recreation in the Blue Mountains on Facebook Share Open Space & Recreation in the Blue Mountains on Twitter Share Open Space & Recreation in the Blue Mountains on Linkedin Email Open Space & Recreation in the Blue Mountains linkDid you know:
- Blue Mountains City Council services 76,904 residents (2016 census), who live in 27 towns and villages spread linear along 120 km of highway. The population of the City is essentially stable, with a slow rate of growth and steadily ageing.
- Blue Mountains has nearly 60 active sports clubs across the local government area.
- Blue Mountains City Council manages a very large range of open space sites and sporting facilities from Laptstone to Katoomba, and right around to Mount Tomah and including the Megalong Valley.
- Many sporting and recreational assets are more than 30 years old and do not meet current community needs or modern standards. There are issues of health and safety, accessibility, as well as changing trends in what our population actually do for recreation.
Things to think about:
A lot of recreational infrastructure is ageing. Council does not have the resources for renewal and replacement of everything that will fail.
The Blue Mountains has a rapidly ageing population, placing pressure on some facilities, as well as requiring facilities to be increasingly updated to increase accessibility for those with a disability.
Proposed Change/s:
- The strategic plan looks at how Council can structure investment to provide a better mix of quality and types of spaces and facilities in each of the 5 planning areas in the most financially sustainable way. It is about prioritising quality, within available resources.
- Changing trends in what we are doing for recreation means we need to be more responsive in changing our service mix to provide for more multi-purpose flexible spaces.
-
The draft plan explores a broad range of different sport and recreation themes such as walking, cycling, play, parks, pools, organised and informal sports, as well as funding options and potential partnerships with other providers, for example, NPWS, sporting groups, and the NSW Office of Sport and Recreation.
-
Play
Share Play on Facebook Share Play on Twitter Share Play on Linkedin Email Play linkDid you know:
- Blue Mountains City Council currently manages 105 parks across the Blue Mountains.
- 56 parks have traditional style play equipment, some of which is rapidly reaching the end of service life.
- There are also natural area track head parks, civic spaces and road side spaces that are maintained like parks for town and highway presentation.
Things to think about:
- What suited families in the 1960’s or even the 1990’s does not necessarily meet the needs of families today and Council is aiming to bring park experiences into line with the current thinking in children’s play.
- Experts in child development advise Council to supply a range of types of play for each of the major developmental needs, which are ‘Move the Body' play, ‘Kinetic’ play, ‘Social’ play, ‘Explorative’ play and ‘Imaginative’ or 'Inventive' play
Proposed Change/s:
A service hierarchy will direct and prioritise investment.
The highest level of investment is for the four identified District parks. The aim is to increase levels of quality and service within the resources available. This includes providing all abilities playgrounds for a range of ages covering all the play type needs, as well as some play accessibility for children with a disability.
The next level of 'Local' parks investment will service each of the five planning areas.
Neighbourhood Parks will have some decreased level of investment, and will be designed as an overall range of supply, where each park will meet at one or two of the identified childhood play need themes.
-
There is a real opportunity to create a more nature based style of design in our parks, using natural materials and clever landscape design to create spaces that are more in sync with the Blue Mountains lifestyle and environmental values.
More information:
- See 'Play' in the Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan - Pages 54 - 63
- See 'Parks' in the Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan - Pages 64 - 66
- See the supporting document - Play Guidelines
-
Natural Recreation
Share Natural Recreation on Facebook Share Natural Recreation on Twitter Share Natural Recreation on Linkedin Email Natural Recreation linkDid you know:
- In Council's community consultation, it was found that 68% of the resident population surveyed use paths at least monthly and 63% named bush-walking tracks as their number one priority for future investment.
- Many assume the bush-walks in the Blue Mountains are all state managed National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), but Blue Mountains City Council actually manages over 120 kilometres of bushwalking tracks, including the major sections of the regionally significant ‘Charles Darwin’ walk in Wentworth Falls and the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ in Leura/Katoomba,
- Council has 130 tracks and 98 lookouts, as well as the many ‘track head’ parks.
- Council also manages 7 major cliff sport precincts for activities such as rock climbing and abseiling. It also provides a gliding launch pad in Blackheath.
Things to think about:
- Many of the bush-walking tracks and natural area infrastructure managed by Council are rapidly deteriorating and will require major investment, with 80% thought to be failing and under-funded.
Proposed Change/s:
- Council needs to increase investment in walking tracks and natural area recreation. Investment in maintaining and upgrading bush-walking tracks in particular will be prioritised according to the track's status in the proposed hierarchy.
More information:
- Go to The Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan - pages 42, 44 and 49 - 53
- In Council's community consultation, it was found that 68% of the resident population surveyed use paths at least monthly and 63% named bush-walking tracks as their number one priority for future investment.
-
Pools
Share Pools on Facebook Share Pools on Twitter Share Pools on Linkedin Email Pools linkDid you know:
Blue Mountains City Council currently provides:
- 5 Aquatic Centres with 16 individual pools.
- There are year round swimming opportunities at Katoomba, Springwood and Glenbrook.
- There are heated seasonal pools available at Katoomba and Lawson 6 months each year and unheated seasonal pools are available at Blackheath 4 months a year
- According to community consultation, swimming and aquarobics are the 6th most popular recreation activity
Things to think about:
- Each swimming centre operates at a subsidy varying from $12.60 per visit in Blackheath (short swimming season and low numbers of visits) through to $0.45 per visit in Springwood (year round indoor facility with high visitation).
- Climate is a significant consideration with regards to use of outdoor pools, particularly in the upper mountains
-
There is a large shortfall in funding required to replace aging pool infrastructure.Council has capital $2,670,000 allocated for pool renewal in the next 5 years. To replace all failing pools as is required capital is $8,560,000.
Proposed Change/s:
- Investigate possibly retiring failing facilities and consult on replacement or other options where funding is insufficient. Make best use of existing facilities in good order, and extend their season of use.
- Vary the facilities upon renewal to better meet modern needs: Year round swimming opportunities would be available at Katoomba, Springwood and Glenbrook. Heated seasonal pool would be available 6 months each year at Lawson and Blackheath. Splash pads would be available at Lawson and Blackheath to compliment the swimming facility.
More information:
- See The Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategic Plan - Pools : Pages 71-73
Document Library
- Aquatic Facility Audit - Katoomba Outdoor Facilities (3.37 MB) (pdf)
- Blackheath Pool Structural Report on Leisure and Wading Pools (9.47 MB) (pdf)
- Draft Open Space & Recreation Strategy Document (36.8 MB) (pdf)
- Draft Play Guidelines (16.9 MB) (pdf)
- Katoomba Sports and AC Redevelopment Opportunity Report (2.73 MB) (pdf)
- Review of Aquatic Facilities: Expert opinion on Options (8.62 MB) (pdf)
- Maps - BMCC Open Space Recreation in the Blue Mountains (5.99 MB) (pdf)
- Random Residents Recreation Survey 2016 Report, Jetty Research (2.74 MB) (pdf)
- Specialist Recreation Surveys Report 2016, Jetty Research (3.03 MB) (pdf)
- 2009-NCW 06 - KT:MS - Additional Technical Docs 2 for Blackheath Pool Balance Tank (6.47 MB) (pdf)
- 2009-NCW 06 - KT - Additional Technical Docs Blackheath Balance Tank (2.78 MB) (pdf)
Key Dates
-
17 October 2017
-
25 October 2017
-
15 January 2017
FAQ
- POOLS - Q: What is the current level of service?
- POOLS - Q: What is the visitation to the pools?
- POOLS- Q: What is the length of current seasons?
- POOLS - Q: What investment has occurred since 2000?
- POOLS - Q: What is the Proposed Service Hierarchy for pools?
- POOLS - Q: What is the proposed new level of service level?
- POOLS - Q: Why would you consider closing a pool?
- POOLS - Q: Why haven’t the pools been maintained?
- POOLS - Q: Why would you consider closing Katoomba Outdoor pool?
- POOLS - Q: What is wrong with the pools – what does the Pool is failing mean?
- POOLS - Q: Can the Katoomba Outdoor pools filtration system be upgraded without renewing the whole facility?
- How do our aquatic centres and pools cater for people with a disability?
- POOLS - Q: How many carnivals are held at each centre?
- POOLS - Q: Can the school carnivals currently held at Katoomba be accommodated at Lawson Swim Centre?
- POOLS - Q: Would the Special Swim Scheme run by the Department of Education continue in the indoor pool if Katoomba Outdoor pools were closed?
- POOLS - Q: Will the Upper Mountains have sufficient pools to cater for the future demand?
- POOLS - Q: What is a splash pad and what are the benefits?
- POOLS - Q: How is a splash pad safer?
- POOLS - Q: How does a splash pad provide an education and fun sensory experience?
- POOLS - Q: Will the plans for a Splash pad at Lawson impact the children learning to swim?