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WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 15 December 2021
NEWS
Campaign starts for toilet at popular park
Residents of Chittaway Bay are campaigning for the installation of public bathroom amenities at Lions Park, the home to a pirate-themed playground built in memory of local toddler Jimmy Jurd, who lost his life at 23 months in 2016 to a rare form of brain cancer. Lions Park is a magnet for local families and children. It is a pitstop along the 12km off-road pathway that circumnavigates the lake from Chittaway Bay to The Entrance
and is also home to an adult fitness equipment station. It contains several barbecues, tables and benches. There is parking for at least 40 vehicles, bubblers and a water station for dogs. It is known to get so crowded at weekends that it is difficult to find a parking space. The convenor of the campaigning group, Les Smith, who is also a member of the local RFS said that the RFS had planned an annual, outdoor, COVID-safe party for families at Lions Park before it was pointed out that there were no facilities.
“We just couldn’t have the party there even though Lions Park is the perfect spot. It’s big enough for community events and has everything, except for bathrooms,” he said. The nearest toilets are one kilometre away in a much smaller park called Bluebell. “I’m 70 years old and if I’m at Lions Park, I don’t want to walk there and back. “It doesn’t make sense. Bluebell has an old playground and no parking. Why does that park have facilities, when Lions Park, which is used by everyone – kids, parents, grandparents
with grandchildren – doesn’t have anything?” he said. Smith took to Facebook to find residents who would prefer to spend more time using the park but are put off by lack of amenities. “I’m not good at IT. I googled ‘how to set up a Facebook group’ and I advertised it on all those community pages – Berkley Vale, Bateau Bay, Tumbi and The Entrance. “Lots of people come down from The Entrance to use the park, and then take the track back up,” he said. The group has grown to more
than 250 people. Smith explained that the group has contacted Council, which referred them to a 26page parks document that stipulates that Lions Park doesn’t warrant an amenities block. “Council are so black and white. Common sense tells us that park warrants it. “There’s nobody listening at the Council. They’re just faceless people who will reinforce what the problem is, but won’t give you a solution,” he added. The group has contacted MPs
David Mehan, David Harris, Adam Crouch and Emma McBride. Adam Crouch is thought to be in touch with Council CEO David Farmer over the issue. “In January we will start pushing Council again to look at this from a commonsense point of view, and not just from the rules and regulations of Council,” said Smith. The facebook group is called the Lions Park and Jimmy Jurd Pirate Park at Chittaway Bay. Nicola Riches
Coast Connect Central Coast Council’s weekly news and community information
Keep the whole family entertained this summer break
Families have plenty of options to keep the kids entertained over the summer break, with Central Coast Council offering an exciting range of online and face-to-face school holiday activities to keep young minds occupied and imaginations stimulated. Parents, carers and guardians can visit the School Holidays event page on Council’s website to find out everything that’s taking place over the break, and can easily search for activities by date, location and age. There is something for all ages and interests, from art and crafts to wildlife workshops, reading challenges, and much more. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/schoolholidays for the full list of events, details and bookings.
The Coast to come alive this festive season
The Central Coast will come alive with a series of Christmas offerings, designed to bring cheer to the local community this December. Town Centres across the Coast will be teeming with festive spirit, with the return of favourite Christmas Tree and Wreath installations, accompanied by activations such as Photobooths and Roving Performances. In addition, the new reIMAGINE Festival has now started and is designed to support local businesses and creatives based on the Central Coast. The festival will include two huge months of creative activities and festive events, to help breathe excitement back into Town Centre locations across the Coast this holiday season. You can expect a program filled with a variety of Christmas activations, NYE fireworks, Australia Day pool parties, pop up shops, a range of interactive art exhibitions and more!
Council meeting
Christmas on the Coast Town Centre activities
Enjoy our free town centre activities and activations bringing cheer to the Coast this Christmas:
Monday 20 Dec at Wyong Town Park 10.00am – 2.00pm Bouncing Stilt Christmas Elves & Christmas Photobooth Tuesday 21 Dec at Toukley Village Green 10.00am – 2.00pm Roving Stilt Duo: Circus Christmas Elves and Christmas Photobooth
Wednesday 22 Dec at Kibble Park Gosford 10.00am – 2.00pm Roving Duo Christmas Candy Canes (until 12.00pm) and Christmas Photobooth (until 2.00pm)
Wednesday 22 Dec at Woy Woy Oval Forecourt 1.00pm – 3.00pm Roving Duo Christmas Candy Canes Thursday 23 Dec at Memorial Park The Entrance 10.00am – 2.00pm Top Shelf Elf and Mrs Claus and Christmas Photobooth Friday 24 Dec at Terrigal Beach Memorial 10.00am – 2.00pm Bouncing Stilt Christmas
Taking place until 30 January 2022, you will find a range of exciting community events, workshops, exhibitions, performances and classes across Gosford, Wyong, Toukley, Terrigal, Woy Woy and The Entrance.
Find out when the next meeting is and watch it online centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/meetings
To find out more about the reIMAGINE Festival and to see the full program search ‘Events’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Council Office: 2 Hely St Wyong | 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday | P 1300 463 954 NEXT ISSUE Don’t miss the next issue. Sign up for our e-news at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/enews
