Our Active and Healthy City

from City of Ryde 2019/20 Annual Report: Stronger Together

Our Connected and Accessible City

The City of Ryde is an active and healthy community, with diverse recreational spaces and opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. People can easily gather in public spaces or at community events that bring residents together, helping everyone to feel part of the Ryde community.

PRIORITIES FOR THIS OUTCOME

ENHANCED RECREATIONAL SPACES Providing opportunities and choice for recreation and active learning and living

• Planning for expanded sport, recreation, leisure and library facilities to provide a range of choices for our community to achieve active and healthy lifestyles

• Maintaining and promoting Ryde’s great public spaces, parks, community venues, libraries, sporting facilities and clubs and ensuring they are easy to access, safe, and provide diverse opportunities for everyone to meet, play, learn and connect.

WELL-TARGETED SERVICES Strengthening community life, connectedness and wellbeing

• Actively connecting with the community to promote activities and services that are available throughout the City of Ryde

• Continuing to build and enhance services, including those supporting our residents at different stages of their lives

• Working with our partners to encourage healthy, active lifestyles and social connections.

OVERVIEW

Council services supporting this outcome

• City Sportsgrounds and Facilities

• City Parks and Open Spaces

• Ryde Aquatic and Leisure Centre

• Libraries

How we monitor progress

• Patronage at venues, events and sporting fixtures

• Participation in recreation and community activities

• Utilisation of community services and facilities

• Community sentiment

$29m INVESTMENT OVER TIME

$33.2m $24.3m $34.8m $40.6m

2017/18 19 / 2018 20 / 2019 21 / 2020 22 / 2021

Field of Mars Path

"Thanks Ryde Council for Kings Park and activating the community." StarsTV

OUR COMMUNITY

Age Profile

0-9

10-19

20-29

30-49

50-64

65-79

80+

2016 Census

13,559

11,547

20,132

35,084

19,383

11,264

5,329

116,298 Projection for 2031

19,500

16,700

23,200

48,350

25,700

18,400

8,950

160,800 Projected Change

44%

45%

15%

38%

33%

63%

68%

38%

Family profile

Couples with children

Couples without children

One-parent families

Other families

Group household

Lone person

Other not classifiable household

Visitor only households 2016 Census

14,824

10,156

3,674

741

2,303

9,576

1,355

391

43,020 Projection for 2031

21,350

13,750

5,450

800

3,050

16,050

1,500

Projected Change

44%

35%

48%

32%

68%

11%

62,000 44%

5,347 people with disability needed assistance with core activities in 2016 - 4.6 percent of the population.

More than 1,620,250 visits

to City of Ryde sportsgrounds, facilities and libraries during the year

COVID-19 closures

Sportsgrounds, playgrounds closed for seven weeks for all community and indoor sport during Council’s COVID-19 shutdown. Libraries closed for 9 weeks and the Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre for 12 weeks before re-opening with capacity and distancing restrictions in place.

Expanded Services

Online Library collection expanded to meet a 22 percent increase in demand

Library2U service launched, Home Library Service expanded, library programs were shifted online

Award winning services

Our Join Up, Join In campaign won the NSW Public Libraries Association Award for Innovation in Outreach Services

Meadowbank Skate Park received a highly commended award at the 2019 IPWEA Excellence awards

Masterplans adopted

Parramatta River Masterplan adopted

Masterplans and plans of management completed for 10 major parks and sportsgrounds

BUILDING AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY CITY

Our residents have built a strong sense of community, actively participating in community life and in the workforce. The City of Ryde operates an extensive range of recreational facilities and sports amenities throughout our City, and residents can readily access specialised health and support services provided through government, not for profit, charity and volunteer organisations.

People in our community love our green spaces and parks, and value the range of services, programs and recreational facilities available to them. Our community has said they want better access to facilities, programs and services so that they can spend time outside and socialise with others, whether for a casual walk or part of an organised event.

As the population ages, we recognise that opportunities for recreation, learning and remaining active and connected must be available for all generations. As the City grows and changes, we need to plan to meet increased demand on the facilities and services that support the entire community and give people the opportunity to participate and get involved. This includes a specific focus on spaces for both informal and organised sports and support for community-run events and opportunities to participate and engage with others in lifelong learning and development opportunities.

SERVICES AND PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

CITY SPORTSGROUNDS AND FACILITIES

Managing, maintaining and operating the City of Ryde’s sportsgrounds and recreation facilities so that residents continue to enjoy reasonable access to leisure, lifestyle and recreation opportunities into the foreseeable future. Council also directly supports sports and leisure sector development within the City of Ryde. These include the Ryde Community and Sports Centre (ELS Hall Park) facility, open space amenity buildings and facilities (including change rooms, toilets, canteens, grandstands) and the Ryde, Putney and Denistone East Bowling Club buildings and tennis facilities.

Sportsground closures - serving our community during the COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns

All City of Ryde sportsgrounds were closed to the public on 30 March as part of the State Government’s COVID-19 restrictions.

During the shutdown period, we switched on the lights at 10 popular sporting fields and parks across the City during weeknights to help members of the community stay active and adhere to physical distancing measures.

We also waived sportsground hire and sportsfield lighting costs for the 2020 winter sports season to help local sporting clubs recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the easing of restrictions, all facilities reopened to the public on 15 May, with physical distancing requirements in place.

Planning the future of our parks and sportsgrounds

During the year, masterplans for three key parks and sportsgrounds were adopted by Council. The Meadowbank Park and Memorial Park Masterplan – the largest and most important regional sports park in the City of Ryde – seeks to increase the sporting capacity within Meadowbank Park while also implementing a range of environmental and active recreation improvements across both parks.

The Westminster Park Masterplan features the installation of a synthetic sports field and upgrading the amenities building with a new community hall.

We adopted the Gannan Park and McCauley Park Masterplan, which will result in the creation of sportsgrounds that meet the current and future needs of multiple sports.

The Draft ELS Hall Park Plan of Management was exhibited. This identifies improvements to sportsground supporting infrastructure and future expansion of the Ryde Community Sports Centre so it can meet the current and future sporting, recreational and leisure needs for the Ryde community for the next 20 years, while protecting the natural environment.

Let's Light Up Football initiative:

"This is the type of positve outcome that can be achieved when football and government work closely together to benefit the community." Stuart

CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM

Sportsfield Floodlighting Renewal

Upgrading existing lighting on sportsgrounds to meet the required lighting levels for relevant sporting codes. Marsfield Park and Gladesville’s Monash Park received extensive lighting upgrades as part of Council’s ongoing work to create state-of-the-art sporting venues across the community. Both projects received grants from Football NSW as part of the Let’s Light Up Football initiative. Minor supplier issues have delayed completion of the upgrade of sportsfield lighting at North Ryde Park until July 2020.

Sportsfield Renewal and Upgrade

Ensuring the ongoing provision of safe and sustainable playing surfaces within the City of Ryde, including catering for increased future utilisation and sporting opportunities. Sportsfield surface upgrades were completed at Dunbar and Tuckwell parks. New irrigation has been installed at Santa Rosa Park.

Sportsground Amenities Renewal and Upgrade

Upgrading and renewing aged, non-functional sporting amenities to meet the needs of current and future users. Restoration of the Monash Park Grandstand has been completed. The ageing amenities building at Pidding Park, Ryde, was replaced with a larger building incorporating multi-purpose change rooms, public toilets, new canteen and storage space for sporting equipment. Meadowbank Park amenities design was delayed pending completion of the park masterplan, with construction now scheduled to occur in 2020/21.

Sportsfield Floodlighting Expansion

Provision of new floodlighting for sporting fields across the City of Ryde. New sportsfield lighting added at Tuckwell Park.

Passive Parks Expansion and Improvement

Works for the upgrade of Kings Park were delayed due to wet weather, now scheduled for completion in September 2020. New lighting has been installed at Memorial Park. A new shelter has been added at the Ryde Park fenced dog area and a new amenities building is being installed at Putney Park southern area. Designs have also been completed for the Ryde Riverwalk link from Bill Mitchell Park to Ross Street Reserve and for the Putney Park foreshore works.

Synthetic Playing Surfaces Expansion

Constructing synthetic playing surfaces throughout the City of Ryde. In February 2020 Council decided to not proceed with the synthetic upgrade for Westminster Park.

56 sportsfields 42 buildings

and other structures in parks and sportsgrounds

54 clubs

and associations utilising our open spaces, sportsgrounds and parks

378,645

participants in organised sports

Night time sports

86 percent of sportsfields now have lighting capacity that is at or higher than the Australian standard

39 percent capacity

Parks and sportsfields were booked at 39 percent of capacity to maintain the condition of playing surfaces

74 percent satisfaction

with our sportsfields and parks booking service (10 percent improvement on previous year)

Protecting green spaces

To protect existing green spaces in the City of Ryde, we launched an investigation into the feasibility of having TG Millner fields in Marsfield heritage listed

Morrison Bay Park

In partnership with the Ryde Bulls and YMCA, a three-onthree basketball competition was held to mark the opening of the newly constructed half-court at Morrison Bay Park in Putney 123

CITY PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

Managing, maintaining and operating the City of Ryde’s parks, reserves and other open spaces (parks, park and open space amenity buildings and facilities including playgrounds, community buildings, toilets, canteens, band stands and so on) so that residents continue to enjoy reasonable access to leisure, lifestyle and recreation opportunities into the foreseeable future. We’re also responsible for the completion of masterplans and plans of management for the City of Ryde’s parks and ensuring that trees across the City are managed as effectively as possible within the available budget.

City of Ryde staff deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic:

"I have gained a full-time apprenticeship with the parks and gardens team allowing me to further develop my passion for horticulture. I have made new friends and learned new practical skills as well as a greater level of fitness." Alishia Keane (RALC staff working in the Parks and Garden Maintenance Team)

Park closures - serving our community during the COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns

Playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, park barbecues and shelters, and the Meadowbank Skate Park closed to the public on 30 March to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signs were placed at playgrounds, outdoor gyms and the skate park notifying the public of their closure. Park visitors were also reminded about restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings. All facilities reopened to the public on 15 May, with physical distancing requirements in place.

Creating diverse public recreation spaces

Council formally adopted the Parramatta River Masterplan. This plan guides the future development and management of 17 parks and seven road reserves along the Parramatta River foreshore and aims to improve the health of the Parramatta River in order to make it swimmable once again.

The masterplan sets out actions including river water quality monitoring, reducing stormwater run-off, improving wet weather overflows and involving the community more in maintaining the health of the river. Extensive testing and studies on potential pollutants and their impact for swimmability will also be undertaken.

Council endorsed a City of Ryde Indoor Facilities Review which sets out the need for indoor facilities until 2036. This document identified future potential expansion of facilities to meet the demand of a growing population.

Our Children’s Play Implementation Plan has been guiding the provision of safe, accessible and sustainable high-quality playgrounds across our City since 2013. Coinciding with the release of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Everyone Can Play Guideline we undertook a five-year review of the plan in mid-2018. The draft update of the Children’s Play Implementation Plan was placed on public exhibition during the year. Under the plan, playgrounds in the City of Ryde will have more inclusive elements and shaded areas, as well as new safety features for playgrounds located in close proximity to roads. Council has also applied for funding under the Everyone Can Play program, to assist with the creation of inclusive playgrounds in the future.

Play Street trial planned

Work is underway to identify a street in the City of Ryde that would like to trial a Play Street, which is an outdoor play space created by temporarily closing a street to through traffic to allow kids and parents to play outside, leading to increased physical exercise and friendlier neighbourhoods.

Catherine Hamlin Park

In late 2019 the community was consulted about the naming and proposed design of a new park at 45A Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park. Seventy percent of total votes cast favoured the park being named Catherine Hamlin Park in recognition of the former Ryde resident’s outstanding contribution to the health and wellbeing of women. Community feedback incorporated into the park’s design included improved pedestrian access across Waterloo Road and a refined vegetation palette to increase biodiversity.

DELIVERY PROGRAM

Open Space Masterplans

A new masterplan for Council’s largest piece of open space, Meadowbank Park, has been adopted by Council with implementation works scheduled to commence in 2020/21. The Blenheim Park Masterplan has been prepared and will be reported to Council in August. A new masterplan for Westminster Park has also been adopted. Work has commenced on a masterplan for the County Road Corridor from Eastwood up to Macquarie Park.

Integrated Open Space Plan Parks Plans of Management

The development of Council’s plans of management to guide the way in which we will manage and operate our parks into the future. Public exhibition of the Parks, Sportsgrounds and General Community Use Plan of Management is scheduled to occur by the end of 2021, following endorsement from the Minister for Crown Lands. The draft Natural Areas Plan of Management has been completed following delays and will be put to Council in August. The Meadowbank Park Plan of Management is awaiting Ministerial approval to place on public exhibition. The Dog Recreation Needs Study 2020 and City of Ryde Indoor Facilities Review were adopted by Council in May 2020. The draft City of Ryde Open Space Future Provision Strategy and draft Youth Infrastructure Strategy are completed and will be reported to Council in the latter part of 2021.

Parks and Open Space Tree Planting Program

Park tree planting was completed at ELS Hall and Gannan parks.

Macquarie Park, Waterloo Road (Catherine Hamlin Park)

Purchase of land and embellishment to provide a passive open space area for the office workers and nearby residents of the Macquarie Park Precinct. Community consultation was undertaken on the new Catherine Hamlin Park design and a masterplan for the park was adopted by Council. Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2021.

Shrimptons Creek Corridor Embellishment (Precinct Activation)

Works have been completed on the upgrade to Wilga Park, adjacent to Shrimptons Creek. The park has been well received by the community with the area improved by terracing, new amenities and the addition of artwork.