Council is redeveloping several areas within the Peninsula Recreation Active Lifestyle Precinct (formerly known as Umina Recreation Area) to provide functional, accessible, and engaging sporting and recreation infrastructure for the benefit of the community.
The Peninsula community has strongly supported plans for Council to further enhance Umina’s sporting and recreation precinct and this goal is becoming a reality.
Funding from the Australian Government for $8,250,000 under the Community Development Grant program is enabling Council to deliver revitalised sports and recreation infrastructure based on the community’s vision and needs.
Project stages
This multi-year project will be delivered in five stages. Stage one works have commenced, with the following stages progressing throughout 2022 to 2024.
Stage 1
- Umina tennis facility upgrades. Including the building’s roof replacement, and installation of a new synthetic surface for court five to create a dedicated futsal court.
- Status: Works commenced March, however, there have been some interruptions due to the ongoing heavy rainfall and weather event. Works continue as weather allows. These works were originally scheduled to commence February, however asbestos was found in the building and required updated scope of works to be planned and undertaken to safely remove and dispose of the hazardous material.
Stage 2
- Sydney Ave access road and carpark upgrade, and new pedestrian pathways and crossing. Works include the resurfacing of the access road from Sydney Avenue to Ocean Beach Caravan park, a new expanded and formalised car parking area (with around 50 additional spaces, including accessible car spaces), construction of a formalised concrete pedestrian pathway (connecting the caravan park to the recreation precinct playspace), and installation of a pedestrian safety crossings with street lighting, plus drainage works with kerb and guttering installed.
- Status: Council has completed geotechnical investigations along with a pavement design and concept design plans, however, is looking to extend the scope of planned works to include below ground stormwater drainage infrastructure, and kerb and guttering so there is better outcomes for the community and visitors and less risk of flooding and damage to the road. In addition, the updated scope of works is to include the construction of street lighting at new pedestrian crossings for improved safety. These additional works will be funded by Council. To enable these work to be undertaken, Council is now progressing planning and design and expects construction to start early in the new financial year (2022-23). Construction of a portion of the new shared path on the western side of Sydney Avenue adjacent to the proposed skatepark will be undertaken in May/June 2022. These works were originally scheduled to commence in February.
Stage 3
- Construction of two upgraded sportsground amenities buildings at, Umina sportsground (Etta Road and Melbourne Ave). This includes the demolition of the existing aged amenities buildings and the construction of two significantly improved and accessible facilities for the benefit of the local rugby league, cricket and soccer groups that use these popular sports fields. The new Melbourne Ave amenities incorporates unisex, ambulant and accessible toilets, two changerooms, one canteen and store, two storage rooms and one clubroom. The new amenities building at Etta Road also incorporates unisex, ambulant and accessible toilets, plus four changerooms, one referee room, canteen and store, storage room, and clubroom. Each site will also have utility service upgrades and new accessible pathways so everyone can participate.
Stage 4
- Upgraded skate park, BMX pump track and new outdoor obstacle course. The existing skate park and BMX track will be demolished to make way for a new custom built-for-purpose regional sized skate park facility and BMX pump track for a broad range of active wheel sports for all ages and abilities. Works include the installation of obstacle course equipment to create an engaging outdoor fitness course. Engagement with the community has been at the forefront of stage 4 projects, with feedback from community consultation in 2018-19 being used for planning and design.
- Installation of new recreational infrastructure including park furniture, shelters, water refill station, connective pathways and landscaping.
Stage 5
- Demolition and reconstruction of the three cricket practice nets in new location.
This milestone follows a shared journey between Council, local community sporting groups, Umina Community Group, the hundreds of engaged residents that participated in previous community consultation, and the Federal Government.
This project is funded by the Australian Government with $8,250,000 from the Community Development Grants Programme and Central Coast Council, with a contribution from Umina Community Group.
Council is passionate about providing safe and engaging outdoor spaces for our community to promote healthy and active lifestyles and to help create connected communities. These upgrades will enhance and complement the existing regional playspace and quality sports fields – which are already popular with locals and visitors to our region.
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