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Newcastle Foreshore Plan of Management

Community Workshop 27 February 2013

Report

for

The City of Newcastle 23 May 2013

Newcastle Foreshore Plan of Management

Community Workshop 27 February 2013 - Report

for

The City of Newcastle

23 May 2013

ISSUED 23 May 2013

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP 27 FEBRUARY 2013 - REPORT (Final Issue, Version 3, 23 May 2013)

Prepared by: Georgina Wright and Alan Ginns, Gondwana Consulting

Issued by: Alan Ginns, Gondwana Consulting

This Community Workshop Report for The City of Newcastle

was prepared by

Gondwana Consulting Pty Ltd P.O. Box 905

Narrabeen, NSW 2101 Phone: 02 9913 3720 or 02 9944 6263

E-mail: [email protected]

Newcastle Foreshore Plan of Management – Community Workshop (27 February 2013) Report, May 2013 Page i

Table of Contents

Page 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Report Purpose ....................................................................................................... 2

2 Scope of Consultation ................................................................................................. 3

2.1 Workshop Promotion and Awareness ...................................................................... 3 2.2 Other Consultation Opportunities ............................................................................ 3 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 5

3.1 Consultation Area Data collection ............................................................................ 5

3.2 Workshop Attendance and Format .......................................................................... 5 3.3 Input Exercises ........................................................................................................ 6 3.4 Representation ........................................................................................................ 6

3.5 Community Participants........................................................................................... 7

3.6 Data Handling and Analysis .................................................................................... 7

4 Key Findings ................................................................................................................ 8

4.1 Session 1 – Values, Positives and Problems ........................................................... 8

4.2 Session 2 – Solutions to Issues/Challenges and Future Vision ............................... 9

4.3 Session 3 – Prioritising Management Directions and Visionse .............................. 10 4.4 Additional Input ..................................................................................................... 13

5 Next Steps .................................................................................................................. 14

List of Appendices 1 Promotional Flyer .......................................................................................................... 15 2 Workshop Powerpoint Presentation .............................................................................. 16 3 Values of the Foreshore ................................................................................................ 26 4 Positives About the Foreshore ...................................................................................... 28

5 Issues or Management Challenges on the Foreshore ................................................... 30

6 All Management Solutions/Actions ................................................................................ 32 7 Management Solutions/Actions Receiving No Votes ..................................................... 34

8 Vision Statements Receiving No Votes ......................................................................... 35

List of Figures 1 Foreshore Plan of Management Area - outlined red ........................................................ 1 2 Session 2 group/table sessions underway ..................................................................... 6

3 Session 3 “voting” in progress ......................................................................................... 6

4 Part of the “positives” sticky wall, with some participants’ suggestions ............................ 8

5 Participants’ votes (red dots) identifying priority solutions for the “Shared Pathway” issue .............................................................................................................. 10 List of Tables 1 Prioritised management directions as identified by workshop participants ..................... 11

2 Prioritised Vision Statements as identified by workshop participants ............................. 12

Newcastle Foreshore Plan of Management – Community Workshop (27 February 2013) Report, May 2013 Page 1

1 Introduction

The City of Newcastle is preparing a new Plan of Management for the Newcastle Foreshore to guide the use, management and development of The Foreshore into the future. The “Foreshore” is situated along the southern side of the busy Newcastle Harbour – extending roughly 1.5 kilometres from the western end of the Joy Cummings Promenade (eastern end of the Crowne Plaza development) to behind Nobbys Beach in the east. It covers an area of over 11 hectares – incorporating Camp Shortland, Foreshore Park (including the amphitheatre and Shortland Lawn), and Joy Cummings Promenade as shown on Figure 1 (which identifies the boundaries and lands included within the Plan of Management). The Foreshore does not include the Queens Wharf Precinct or the foreshore walkway along Tugberth Road (opposite Foreshore Park). The Foreshore was redeveloped from State Rail and Council owned land and officially opened in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II as part of Australia’s Bicentenary celebrations. It is managed as a regional park and is one of Newcastle’s premier attractions catering for a diversity of uses including walking, fitness training, picnics and playground areas, scenic viewing, fishing and as a venue for large special events. The Plan of Management area comprises both Community Land and Crown Land (all under The City of Newcastle’s management). The new Plan will replace the current Foreshore Plan of Management which was finalised in 2000, and is now 13 years old. It will reflect the current values and issues identified by the community, and Council, for the Foreshore. Gondwana Consulting have been engaged by Council to assist in community engagement and preparation of the Issues and Options Paper as a first step in the Plan’s preparation.

Figure 1 - Foreshore Plan of Management Area, outlined in red


1.1 Report Purpose

An open invitation community workshop was held on the 27th February 2013 to discuss community values, current issues, future vision and possible management directions or actions for the Foreshore. The purpose of this Report is to summarise the workshop processes and describe the outcomes or findings of this community forum.


2 Scope of Consultation

The Newcastle Foreshore Plan of Management Community Workshop was held from 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday 27 February 2013 at the Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club, Memorial Drive, Bar Beach.

2.1 Workshop Promotion and Awareness

The Workshop was an open invitation workshop and was promoted widely through an extensive range of means, specifically:

� newspaper advertisements in The Newcastle Herald and The Lower Hunter Star on 9th February 2013;

� a Media Release issues 25th January 2013;

� letterbox drop of an invitation “flyer” (Appendix 1) to 5,500 surrounding residents;

� invitation “flyer” also posted/delivered to known stakeholders (including Queens Wharf Kitchen, The Brewery, Scratchleys, Customs House, Paymasters, Newcastle Port Corporation, Hunter Development Corporation, Newcastle Maritime, and Parks and Playground Movement);

� e-mail or telephone advice/invitation to earlier survey respondents who provided contact details and expressed the desire to be updated/involved in the Plan’s preparation;

� A1 coloured “coreflute” promotional posters at 3 locations on-site;

� promotion on Council’s webpage;

� via Council’s E-News;

� via Novopulse (Council’s internal staff newsletter); and

� through social media (Newcastle Voice Facebook Page and email, and Newcastle NSW Facebook Page).

The overall aim of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for participants to share their ideas about the Foreshore and contribute to the Plan of Management’s preparation. Unlike a survey, information collection through a workshop format provides opportunities to discuss more complex issues.

2.2 Other Consultation Opportunities

A number of other opportunities for community input to the Issues and Options Discussion Paper, and the Plan of Management, have been offered by Council as part of the community and stakeholder engagement process. These have included:

� a community survey for members of Newcastle Voice and for the broader community (the survey was sent to 2,492 Newcastle Voice Members and also available to the broader community at local libraries and on Council’s website – 989 responses were received);

� On-site face-to-face “intercept” surveys of visitors to the Newcastle Foreshore (visitors were approached over a 5 day period, from December 2012 to February 2013, to complete an interviewer assisted survey – 158 surveys were completed;


� Focus Groups, buy invitation, with representatives from surrounding businesses, commercial recreation operators and special event organisers, and Council parks staff; and

� direct contact and discussions with Newcastle Port Corporation, Hunter Development Corporation, State Government agencies and other known stakeholder groups.


3 Methodology

3.1 Consultation Area

The Newcastle Foreshore is considered and managed as a “regional park”. It receives high levels of use from inner city residents, other Novocastrians and out of area users. Therefore the Community Workshop was by open invitation. This was to ensure a wide range of Foreshore visitors were able to participate in the area’s future planning. Promotional activities for the workshop (as set out in section 2.1) were therefore aimed at residents of the entire Newcastle local government area.

3.2 Workshop Attendance and Format

The workshop was attended by just under 30 members of the community. It was run on a semi-structured format, with the aid of a “powerpoint” presentation (included at Appendix 2), to encourage maximum participation from attendees. The workshop was jointly facilitated by Alan Ginns, Director Gondwana Consulting, and Donna Mitchell, Acting Community Land Planner Newcastle City Council with other Council staff also assisting. At the commencement of the workshop, an overview of the project and the locations included in the Plan of Management (and areas not covered by the Plan) was provided. Attendees were also given a background to the plan of management process generally, covering:

� what is a plan of management;

� why a new plan of management needs to be prepared;

� what are the requirements of plans of management;

� what are the limitations of plans of management; and

� the process of preparing a plan of management.

A brief background of the process used to-date in preparation of the new Foreshore Plan of Management was also discussed, including the following steps:

� background research (e.g. review of the existing Plan of Management and actions, constraint analysis, analysis of existing uses, issues identification etc);

� formulation of a Community Consultation and Engagement Plan;

� undertaking of a survey though Newcastle Voice and the general community (via Council libraries and Newcastle City Council’s website (989 responses received);

� undertaking face-to-face intercept surveys on site (158 responses over 5 survey days);

� carrying out Promenade use counts on a weekday and weekend day (three locations and 3 x 2 hour timeslots each day);

� community involvement opportunities promoted through a variety of methods including Newcastle City Council website, newspaper advertisements, radio interview, posters on site, letter box drops, and social media; and

� this Community Workshop.


After presentation of this background information, an opportunity was provided for attendees to ask questions about the process to-date and raise any pressing comments or views about the Foreshore generally. The workshop was then divided into three participatory sessions as discussed below.

3.3 Input Exercises

The heart of the Community Workshop was the following three sessions or “input exercises”:

► Session 1 - Values , Positives and Problems

• Each participant was asked to identify their top two “Values”, “Positives” and “Problems/Issues” for the Foreshore.

► Session 2 - Solutions to Issues/Challenges and Future Vision

• The problems or issues identified in Session 1 were grouped into 7 common themes. Group/table discussions were held for each theme and participants developed a list of solutions to the management issue in question.

• Each group/table also developed one or more “vision statement” for the Foreshore.

► Session 3 - Prioritising Management Directions and Visions

• A representative from each group presented the issues and values for their group/table to the whole workshop.

• All management solutions or directions, and overall visions for the Foreshore, were prioritised by all workshop participants using a voting system.

3.4 Representation

The views expressed in this report are derived from workshop participants and are not statistically valid. They represent the views of the participants as expressed on the night.

Figure 2 – Session 2 group/table sessions underway

Figure 3 – Session 3 “voting” in progress


3.5 Community Participants

As the workshop was by open invitation, participants to the workshop were generally residents and ratepayers of the Newcastle local government area having a particular interest in the Foreshore. In addition to the residents and rate payers, two City of Newcastle Councillors also attended the workshop. Over 60 people registered their interest in attending the Community Workshop, however just under 30 participants were in attendance on the night.

3.6 Data Handling and Analysis

The data handling and analysis for the Community Workshop was carried out by Gondwana Consulting. Workshop objectives were discussed at the outset of the workshop and participants were made aware that the information collected during the workshop would be used to inform both the Issues and Options Discussion Paper and the new Foreshore Plan of Management. All responses received during the workshop are treated with confidence. This report does not include any personal/participant identification details with the responses or information gathered.


4 Key Findings

This section of the Report provides a summary of the key findings of three “input exercise” sessions held during the Workshop.

4.1 Session 1 – Values, Positives and Problems

Each participant was given 6 coloured cards (2 of each colour – pink, yellow and blue) and asked to identify their top two:

� Values – that is what they valued about the Foreshore, what was important to them, or what was it about the Foreshore that appeals to or attracts them;

� Positives – that is things that work well, or are done well, on the Foreshore at present; and

� Problems or Issues - that is what could be done better, is a problem, a shortcoming, or is missing from the Foreshore.

All of the Values, Positives and Problems identified by participants were then placed on a “sticky” wall – grouped in their respective category – for everyone to read. Responses were also discussed amongst and between participants as people were placing their responses on the wall. Values and Positives were briefly presented by the facilitators but were not the subject of further group discussions.

4.1.1 Values The dominant Values that participants identified for the Foreshore were, in order:

• open space, parkland and associated facilities or “greenery“ (cited 15 times);

• the Foreshore’s ease of access, plus continuity and connectivity (cited 9 times);

• the area’s freedom of access and use by all (cited 6 times); and

• being beside the water and sea views (cited 4 times). Other values cited, in three instances, were – passive recreation, proximity to the CBD, and being a “community space”. A full list of all the “Values” identified is provided in Appendix 3.

4.1.2 Positives Participants identified a slightly wider range of things they considered were being “done well” or “working well” on the foreshore at present, although many elements mirrored their stated key values of the area.

Figure 4 - Part of the “positives” sticky wall, with some participants’ suggestions


Participants identified the large open grassed areas (8 references), the area’s accessibility and the links or access it provided to surrounding attractions (7 references), and the high standard of maintenance and cleanliness of the Foreshore and its parklands (5 references) as leading positives about the area. Other positives cited were Foreshore Park (as an area in its own right) and the Foreshore’s community focus and family-friendly character. A full list of all the “Positives” identified is provided in Appendix 4.

4.1.3 Problems or Issues Participants identified a broad range of problems or issues they felt warranted attention in the Foreshore’s future management. These were grouped by the facilitators, with input from some more interested participants, during the refreshment break before being discussed with the workshop as a whole. The individual issue statements (2 from each participant) were grouped into the following 8 common themes: 1. pedestrian movement and connectivity (indentified in 9 issue statements); 2. conflicts and congestion (9 issue statements); 3. shared pathways (7 issue statements); 4. facilities (7 issue statements); 5. parking (and traffic) (7 issue statements); 6. landscape design (5 issue statements); 7. public transport (3 issue statements); and 8. anti-social activities (2 issue statements). A full listing of all issue statements offered by participants, grouped according to the above themes, is provided in Appendix 5. Participants agreed that addressing anti-social activities was somewhat peripheral to the plan of management, and this theme did not warrant further specific discussions at the workshop in view of the limited time available.

4.2 Session 2 – Solutions to Issues/Challenges and Future Vision

For this discussion and input session each of the 7 remaining broad issues/challenges themes was allotted to an individual table, and participants then asked to move to the table for the issue they wished to address. Each table had a Council, or Gondwana Consulting, officer to assist with discussion if required – but not to take a facilitator or leadership role. Participants were also able to move between tables and provide input into as many themes as they were willing to – although most people were observed to remain in their chosen issue discussion group. Each table was asked the following two questions.

� Question 1 – Group discussion of the table’s management issue and the identification of solutions or management directions/actions to address the issue, enhance users’ experiences, or better manage the Foreshore.

� Question 2 – A vision for the Foreshore, as one or more “vision statements” encapsulating how would the group like to see the Foreshore in, say, 5 years time ?


Answers to these questions were presented, discussed and priorities in the next exercise – Session 3.

4.3 Session 3 – Prioritising Management Directions and Visions

A representative from each table/issue group presented, to all workshop participants, the possible management solutions they identified for their issue as well as the group’s preferred vision (s) for the Foreshore. The solutions and vision(s) developed by each table group were also posted on a common wall using “butchers paper” as part of this presentation.

4.3.1 Management Solutions/Actions A full list of all management solutions/actions identified for each of the 7 issue themes is given in Appendix 6. After a brief discussion of some of the individual solutions nominated and the common elements of some of the suggested actions, as well as Council’s finite resources and the need to prioritise management responses, participants were given 3 “voting” stickers. They were then asked to vote, by placing their voting stickers against the management actions each felt was the top priority to implement. A list of prioritised management directions, grouped by theme, is provided in Table 1 below. Other management actions/directions that were identified during the workshop, but which did not receive a vote, are included in Appendix 7. The overall top six management directions identified by the votes of all participants were (verbatim):

1. “Integrated masterplan – rail, ports, commercial, tourist, retail, CBD ops, residents, public, NCC, Crown Land, NSW State Govt, RMS, Police, Fire, Cycle, recreational users” (8 votes);

2. “Rotunda or amphitheatre for live performance” (6 votes); 3. “Restrict Wharf Road to one-way for traffic and widen pedestrian area” (5 votes) 4. “More trees with seating and tables” (4 votes); 5. “Better toilet facilities and added signage and tourist information signage” (4 votes);

and 6. “Water feature / well-being garden with sculptures” (4 votes).

Figure 5 – Participants’ votes (red dots) identifying priority solutions for the “Shared Pathway” issue theme


Table 1 - Prioritised management directions/solutions, as identified by workshop participants

Total Votes

Management Directions/Solutions

Issue: Pedestrian movement and connectivity

8 Integrated masterplan – rail, ports, commercial, tourist, retail, CBD ops, residents, public, NCC, Crown Land, NSW State Govt, RMS, Police, Fire, Cycle, recreational users

2 Lynches doesn’t take away pedestrian access by being developed 2 Shared zones (car, people, walking, bike, dogs on leads) 1 Safer crossing for pedestrians

Issue: Conflicts and congestion

5 Restrict Wharf Road to oneway for traffic and widen pedestrian area 1 Restrict timing of activities (outside popular times)

Issue: Shared pathways 3 Promenade in front of Lynches shared path 6m. Fix Lynches bottleneck. 3 Create a promenade that is a shared path for slow cycling / families 2 Create separated cycle way between Wharf Road footpath and the parking lane

Issue: Facilities

3 Shade sails with seating 4 Water feature / well-being garden with sculptures 4 More trees with seating and tables 1 Maintenance of current facilities 4 Better toilet facilities and added signage and tourist information signage 2 Outdoor training equipment 3 Shade sails with seating

Issue: Parking (and traffic)

3 Parking for less than one hour should be free 2 Public transport drop off / pick up needs to be improved (also taxi) 1 Need to be able to park for longer time periods (4hrs) 1 Free weekend parking so recreational users are not penalised

Issue: Landscape design

6 Rotunda or amphitheatre for live performance 2 Disability access – pathway connectivity 1 More use of colour with banners and flags 1 Utilising and promoting local artists with sculpture, ground mosaics, etc 1 More care in type of trees/foliage planted in Foreshore area generally

Issue: Public transport

3 Park and ride bus routes – bus routes and free parking stations 2 Must communicate transport options 1 Poor public transport


4.3.2 Vision The same process was followed in relation to the vision statement developed for the Foreshore by each table group. On this occasion participants were given 2 “voting stickers” to place against their preferred visions statements. The overall top five visions statements identified by the group voting of participants were (verbatim):

• “Plan of Management that covers Foreshore adjoining lands, road reserves, CLARITY, Brewery Queens Wharf” (6 votes);

• “Dedicated dawn service ‘facility’. Need to look the part.” (6 votes);

• “No traffic issues – excellent public transport” (4 votes);

• “Placemaking that’s valued by community and visitors = proud” (4 votes); and

• “Develop facilities to attract tourists” (3 votes). A list of all the prioritised vision statements is provided in Table 2 below. Other vision statements were identified during the Workshop but they did not receive a vote, these are included in Appendix 8. Participants also gave 5 votes to the desire to “use rail corridor for light rail or similar”, however this relates to a site and facility beyond the Plan of Management area. Table 2 - Prioritised Vision Statements as identified by workshop participants

Total Votes

Vision Statements

6 Plan of Management that covers Foreshore adjoining lands, road reserves, CLARITY, Brewery Queens Wharf

6 Dedicated dawn service “facility”. Need to look the part. 5 Use rail corridor for light rail or similar 4 No traffic issues – excellent public transport. 4 Placemaking that’s valued by community and visitors = proud 3 Develop facilities to attract tourists 2 Open space for all 2 Vital to NSW (Sydney’s 2nd city). Port, resources, heritage, foreshore, escape. 2 More shade / shelters 2 Well being therapy garden with public art designed to encourage contemplation and

wellbeing 2 Acquire / create broad corridor along foreshore 2 Light rail circuit – Hunter Street, Darby Street, Glebe Road, Adamstown Station 1 Heritage well respected and highlighted 1 Masterplanned approach to whole Newcastle Area 1 More public art 1 Need purpose built off site facility for events like Fat as Butter 1 More people cycling to the area


4.3 Additional Input

Workshop participants offered additional comments at several stages in the process, notably the first question and answer opportunity before the three structured input sessions. Many of these comments were subsequently addressed in the three “input exercise” sessions. However the “additional” comments below warrant noting:

• congestion in the Queens Wharf area is a major concerns, and should be addressed by the plan;

• greater emphasis on active transport;

• “parking road”, on foreshore beside Wharf Road, should be included in the park and plan;

• impacts of Queens Wharf Brewery spill over to surrounding areas, this needs to be addressed in the plan and site’s lease arrangements; and

• tenure should not be a constraint if all areas are managed by Council, plan should go as far as needed to effectively address Foreshore’s management regardless of tenure.


5 Next Steps

At the close of the workshop, participants were informed of the steps from here:

� review all feedback and research;

� Issues and Options Paper developed and exhibited for community comment;

� Issues and Options Paper feedback reviewed;

� Draft Plan of Management developed and exhibited for community comment;

� Submissions from exhibition reviewed and changes made; and

� Final Plan of Management for Crown Lands’ approval and Council adoption.


Appendix 1

Promotional Flyer


Appendix 2

Workshop Powerpoint Presentation


Appendix 3

Values of the Foreshore Each workshop participant identified their 2 main values for the Foreshore (verbatim).

• Open areas

• Open space

• Open family space

• Open spaces

• Open space, parkland

• Open space, foreshore, promenade shaded for families

• Continuity, open space for non structured entertainment/amusement

• Well groomed, great trees, foliage

• Green factor

• Lots of shade and benches

• Family friendly

• Seating, undercover family oriented space, “park”

• Public amenity & facilities

• Public facilities

• Access to public amenity

• Ease of access

• Accessibility

• Public connectivity & continuity through/along the space

• Accessibility

• Recreation accessibility

• Accessible – public transport – roads – pathways

• Foreshore is a good axis point to picnicing, walking, play, flying kites, swim surf, dining, tower climb, ferry rides, and viewing the ever interesting Port of Newcastle

• Access corridor

• Able to walk long distances

• Free accessible open space

• Accessible to all

• Open & free for activities

• Public use by all

• Free open space for everyone to use

• Public - free access

• Being beside the water

• The sea views, especially when you see a pod of dolphins

• Interacting with the harbour

• Ship photos

• Recreation


• Passive recreation

• Passive recreation and friendly atmosphere “do your own thing”

• A people pace of varied activity, which in essence brings families into the city and close enough to the CBD/Hunter St Mall, to make the future “renaissance” workable

• Linkages to CBD

• Close to all facets of city living

• Community space

• Venue for community events

• Community action – Sandhills Community Garden, free, sharing, healthy

• Pleasant environment – lovely views

• Visually attractive

• Separation of activities e.g. active recreation and passive recreation

• Functionality

• Activities, attractions, community members

• Good eating places


Appendix 4

Positives About the Foreshore Each workshop participant identified their 2 main positives about the Foreshore, that is things that are being “done well” or “working well” in the area at present (verbatim).

• Openness

• Large open areas

• Open spaces

• Large open areas

• Spaces

• Open space

• Grassed areas

• Grassed areas

• Access to foreshore

• Public access to the beautiful & largely vehicle free harbourside

• Walking access

• Beach & harbour access

• Easy access

• A large amount of the space is publicly accessible

• Free access to space

• Grassed areas, trees, open space maintenance

• Landscaping & maintenance

• Kept clean and lawns mowed

• Clean and well maintained

• Maintenance of parklands

• Foreshore Park works well

• Foreshore Park – heritage reuse – toilets – playground

• Train shed, b’bcues [sic], play areas

• Community focus

• Attraction for the community to come and enjoy

• Family friendly – appeal to various members

• 6-8m promenade, where it exists !

• Attractive walkways

• The huge and largely successful active recreation that occurs along the space

• Passive recreation

• Views of the harbour

• Aspect – harbour views

• Area easy on the eye and available all hours


• Looks good – harbour – planned – landscaping

• Flexible use

• Diversified usage

• Proximity to transport, chance to use corridor once rail goes

• Good facilities

• Amphitheatre, undeveloped corridor

• Parking, walking, beautiful nature, people actively doing exercise

• Entertainment

• Limited private leasehold

• The height of pine trees in front of Customs House clock tower, please reconsider the type of trees here. What about a decent garden bed in this location, instead.

• Roadways under normal conditions

• The lack of any kind of use or activity regarding former Lynches Bait Shpop. Why not a tourist “info” booth in here ? Even a boutique T [sic] better than none !

• Integration


Appendix 5

Issues or Management Challenges on the Foreshore Each workshop participant nominated the 2 most pressing issues or challenges they saw for the Foreshore’s management as presented below (verbatim), these have been grouped into the following 8 common themes.

Pedestrian movement and connectivity (9)

• More pathways

• Pedestrian connectivity – prams

• Pedestrian movement

• Poor connectivity e.g. Queens Wharf & exclusion from PoM

• Not a continuous foreshore park

• Poor connectivity back to the city

• Connection by pedestrians to CBD

• Permeability between parks and CBD

• Maintenance of footpaths (cleaning)

Conflicts and congestion (9)

• The overuse by events, esp. Fat as Butter and other long term hire

• Fat as Butter concerts & alcohol issues

• Queens Wharf conflict

• Current restrictions on passage. Uneven use/impact of venues vs general public.

• Incursion of commercial operations into the public rec areas

• Conflict between different user groups

• Discontinuities & conflicts between different public uses

• Physical training circuit activities

• Need to open up Foreshore Park to more activities/events (it’s secluded)

Shared pathways - pedestrians/cyclists (7)

• Not working well as ‘shared space’ and continuous access for walkers, cyclists, dogs, prams

• Connected safe bike access

• Combined walkway/bike path (needed from Carrington to Pilot Station)

• Better cycleways

• Need designated shared pathways !!

• Congestion on footpath & road

• Bike riders/pedestrian conflicts

Facilities (7)

• Toilet facilities

• More seating

• Lack of playground equipment

• Sport facilities

• Amenities

• More public art with a focus on education and acceptance of diversity

• Limited public art space


Parking (and traffic) (7)

• Traffic & parking

• Traffic flow during busy times

• Not enough parking on weekends should be free parking

• Parking

• To many parking meters

• Parking meters

• Road traffic

Landscape design (5)

• Please reconsider the whole tree & foliage plan in & around the foreshore. We are losing good view corridors all around here. Compared to 20 years ago.

• Wasteland area, no nice cafe’ to show off to visitors

• Hodge podge of spaces and areas

• Poor roadway Foreshore Park tenure

• Lynch’s Prawns building

• Where is the use of flags, banners, etc in this precinct. More colour is needed & variety of vistas.

Public transport (3)

• Lack of public transport – e.g. continuous loop that incorporates/links NC & beaches

• Transport for those who do not drive

• Transport public/private specially when events are on

Anti-social activities (2)

• Anti-social behaviour

• Drug users (Foreshore Park)


Appendix 6

All Management Solutions/Actions A list of all the management solutions/actions identified by each Session 2 group/table for the 7 issue themes addressed.

Pedestrian movement and connectivity

• Integrated masterplan – rail, ports, commercial, tourist, retail, CBD ops, residents, public, NCC, Crown Land, NSW State Govt, RMS, Police, Fire, Cycle, recreational users

• Lynches doesn’t take away pedestrian access by being developed

• Shared zones (car, people, walking, bike, dogs on leads)

• Safer crossing for pedestrians

• Integrated walkways across Watt Street, across Wharf Street

• Designated pedestrian crossings

• Bike lane next to pedestrian path (Wollongong)

• Public transport integrated plan for events, well marketed (Sydney NYE and Kirribilli NYE)

Conflicts and congestion

• Restrict Wharf Road to oneway for traffic and widen pedestrian area

• Restrict timing of activities (outside popular times)

• Restrict area activities can be operated in

• Possible future use of rail corridor

• Dedicated planner to schedule activities

Shared pathways

• Promenade in front of Lynches shared path 6m. Fix Lynches bottleneck.

• Create a promenade that is a shared path for slow cycling / families

• Create separated cycle way between Wharf Road footpath and the parking lane

• Correct past plans to reinstate the shared plan

Facilities

• Shade sails with seating

• Water feature / well-being garden with sculptures

• More trees with seating and tables

• Maintenance of current facilities

• Better toilet facilities and added signage and tourist information signage

• Outdoor training equipment

• Shade sails with seating

• Sunblock hub – free block out slip-slop-slap!

• Water-fill stations

Parking (and traffic)

• Parking for less than one hour should be free

• Public transport drop off / pick up needs to be improved (also taxi)

• Need to be able to park for longer time periods (4hrs)

• Free weekend parking so recreational users are not penalised


• Too little available space for pick up and drop off (motorists) – review of ‘no stopping’ zones

• Inconsistent charging / rates / time across the city

Landscape design

• Rotunda or amphitheatre for live performance

• Disability access – pathway connectivity

• More use of colour with banners and flags

• Utilising and promoting local artists with sculpture, ground mosaics, etc

• More care in type of trees/foliage planted in Foreshore area generally

• Larger shade trees

• Bike paths

• Please revise view of Customs House Clock Tower (front on)

• Incorporation of public art into landscape design

• Therapy garden and community garden spaces important

• Community input Public transport

• Park and ride bus routes – bus routes and free parking stations

• Must communicate transport options

• Poor public transport

• More use of cycles

• More walking

• Buses must run at times of need

• Special event buses


Appendix 7

Management Solutions/Actions Receiving No Votes Those management solutions/actions identified by each Session 2 group/table which did not receive a “vote” in Session 3.

Issue: Pedestrian movement and connectivity Integrated walkways across Watt Street, across Wharf Street Designated pedestrian crossings Bike lane next to pedestrian path (Wollongong) Public transport integrated plan for events, well marketed (Sydney NYE and Kirribilli NYE) Issue: Conflict and congestion

Restrict area activities can be operated in Possible future use of rail corridor Dedicated planner to schedule activities Issue: Shared pathways Correct past plans to reinstate the shared plan. Issue: Facilities

Sunblock hub – free block out slip-slop-slap! Water-fill stations Issue: Parking (and traffic)

Too little available space for pick up and drop off (motorists) – review of ‘no stopping’ zones Inconsistent charging / rates / time across the city Issue: Landscape design

Larger shade trees Bike paths Please revise view of Customs House Clock Tower (front on) Incorporation of public art into landscape design Therapy garden and community garden spaces important Community input Issue: Public transport More use of cycles More walking Buses must run at times of need Special event buses


Appendix 8

Vision Statements Receiving No Votes Those Vision Statements identified by Session 2 groups/tables which did not receive a “vote” in Session 3.

• Good public transport to area and promote public parking

• Increase number of shaded seating areas

• Space reserved for public use

• Limited private lease hold, eg Queens Wharf better entertainment

• Flexible areas

• Encourage casual overnight stays in car parks

• Upgrade Queens Wharf

• 40km from Hannell St to Nobbys

• No traffic

• More pet friendly

community workshop 27 february 2013 report€¦ · newcastle foreshore plan of management –...

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