Reconfiguring the Crescent Head foreshore and carpark to increase public open space, widen footpaths and install new picnic areas and a new skatepark along with revitalising the town centre, will now be part of the future vision for Crescent Head.
The vision was confirmed after Councillors reviewed the community’s extensive feedback on the Crescent Head Public Domain Plan at the Council meeting on Tuesday, 20 October.
The development of the concept plans involved significant community feedback including a school workshop, community catch up, a dedicated community-driven design process and online engagement through Your Say Macleay.
In addition to the official survey responses, many direct submissions and petition signatures were also received through the public exhibition period. A presentation to the Public Forum ahead of the Council meeting was also considered in yesterday’s decision-making.
Kempsey Shire Mayor, Liz Campbell, reflected that the Public Domain Plan is an action from the Crescent Head Area Master Plan and it is a major milestone to have reached a resolution on the concept designs.
“The Councillors are really grateful for the significant community involvement in this project. It is never realistic to expect that engagement, especially on a project that impacts an iconic foreshore, will reach a consensus,” said Cr Campbell.
“This level of engagement has provided an opportunity to understand all the different perspectives in the community and review the critical issues prior to making a decision.”
In approving the suite of concept plans, Councillors endorsed the proposal with refinements made to the exhibited plans for the village centre, Rankine Street, Little Nobby and Muddy Arm Park recognising feedback received. In principle support was given for Option A of the foreshore carpark design proposals and the Killick Creek play and path areas.
Council’s Director Operations and Planning, Robert Fish, clarified that this in principle support will now allow staff to work with the consultants to further refine the designs and consider minor adjustments resulting from the feedback received.
“There are a number of specific challenges to work through such as the exact numbers of formalised parking spaces that can fit in the plan and the best options for the interface of the Holiday Park and Killick Creek area,” said Mr Fish.
“This resolution gives us a directive on the preference and allows us to keep moving with developing more detailed plans that can be further discussed with stakeholders.
“It’s important to highlight that with the exception of the Rankine Street section this work is largely unfunded, especially anything on the foreshore or carpark, so nothing changes in the immediate term. Adopting the design concepts does allow us to be more prepared to apply for relevant grant funding opportunities and progressively develop the detailed designs.”
Mayor Campbell concluded that “I am confident that the plans adopted will enhance the area’s natural beauty, achieve a reasonable balance between parking and greenspace and accommodate the growing needs of the Crescent Head community well into the future.”
