Brays Bay Reserve

planning for the future BRAYS BAY RESERVE

BRAYS BAY RESERVE is located on Concord Road, approximately 100m from Rhodes Railway Station. The site sits between McIlwaine Park and Rhodes Park, which follow the western shore of Brays Bay. The northern point of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is in Brays Bay Reserve and travels all the way to the Memorial Rose Garden located on Hospital Road, Concord.

THE SITE OF BRAYS BAY RESERVE has a long industrial history. This is evident in the physical form of the water’s edge, which is as a result of land reclamation, as well as the presence of the Ship Building Memorial. The reserve also contains a restaurant and car park accessible from Concord Road.

THE KOKODA TRACK MEMORIAL WALKWAY is a permanent living memorial to the PapuaNew Guinea campaign of July 1942 – January 1943, in which Australian soldiers withstood and repelled the Japanese advance at considerable cost to human life and health. The Track has been designed to reflect the landform and vegetation cover of the real Kokoda Track to the extent that it is possible and practical. Information stations are located along the track that outlines significant events and people who served along the Track. THE SHIP BUILDING MEMORIAL within Brays Bay Reserve acknowledges the contribution made on this site where small ships were constructed for service in WW2. The slip way on which the ships were constructed and launched from has been recreated in the parks ground plane. A piece of public art in the form of a ship’s bow resides beside the recreated slipway. The original design for this piece included an electronic voice over giving the history of the site, but this has since fallen into disrepair and no longer works. The Ship Building Memorial not only reflects the efforts of those who built the ships, but of those that served on them.

THE MEMORIALS visually connect within Brays Bay Reserve, but the physical connection is tenuous and convoluted. The physical connection should be such that transitioning from one space to the other is both instinctive and achievable by everyone.

THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT is to reinforce the connection between the Track and the Ship Building Memorial by strengthening the physical relationship. The Ship Building Memorial needs work to reinstate the electronic component of the piece as well as work to the context within which it resides. A PLACE THAT IS: u Clean, safe and well maintained public domain u Good quality amenities for example shade, seating, lighting, children’s activities, public art our vision A PLACE THAT HAS: u Universal access – Rhodes as an accessible place for all u Opportunities for fun and excitement through activated spaces

Social and Cultural Life

THE NEXT 5 YEARS A Review landscaping design to maximise accessibility within the Reserve B Upgrade and repair existing opportunities to extend the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway to continue historic narratives and connect with the emerging community in the western precinct of Rhodes Peninsula as well as the reinvigoration of the existing sculpture by integrating it more in the landscape or providing a complementary work on the water’s edge may attract people to investigate the important ship-building heritage of the site and lead park-users to the foreshore as part of the experience

Uses and Activities

THE NEXT 5 YEARS A Consider in the redevelopment of the area; play space, shade, lighting, public art, seating and eating spaces, public toilets, community and historic information

Comfort and Image

THE NEXT 5 YEARS A Consider spaces where different generations can interact and experience the historical significance of the site B Continue to support community gathering places where a wide range of community members are welcome and can participate in both structured programs or informal, unstructured activities

PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

• Residents and representative groups • Businesses • Place Committee • Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway Board • Concord Hospital • Olivetto restaurant • Roads and Maritime Services • Transport for NSW

Connectivity

THE NEXT 5 YEARS A Lighting and design matters are included in the renewal of the area to ensure safety and activation STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS A Continue to develop and implement a coordinated approach to the public domain of Rhodes through master planning and similar processes

Voice and Influence

THE NEXT 5 YEARS A Involve both the community and broader group of stakeholders in the renewal of this site