Centennial Park, which some residents say is neglected and in need of a makeover, could be transformed under a controversial long-term council plan.

Lambert Street residents Bernadette Wood and Peter Simmons, who live near the park, want to see it developed in the best way possible – but Ms Wood says the local area is built-up and needs recreation space.

Bathurst Regional Council discussed the park’s future during strategic meetings held last year, and one of the options canvassed was turning the park into an entertainment and cultural precinct.

That could then allow council to expand its civic centre on the corner of Russell and William streets into the area now occupied by the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre. 

Ms Wood said council needs a long-term strategic plan about how it manages the city’s green spaces and parks.

“I have lived within one kilometre of the park for the last 30 years,” she said.

“Friends and neighbours are concerned about any plans to put buildings on the park because council is running out of office space, so we decided to survey people’s opinions and present them to council.”

The survey was posted on social media site, Survey Monkey, and quickly racked up more than 150 responses online.

“The survey can be completed anonymously or people can leave contact details,” Ms Wood said.

“We have asked really neutral questions and we will let the survey run for a couple of weeks before collating the results and presenting them to council and the media.”

Ms Wood said that, at this stage, the overwhelming majority of people clearly do not want any buildings in the park.

“A small percentage may consider an entertainment precinct, but only if it is surrounded by parkland,” she said.

“Nearly everyone agrees the park needs to be enhanced in some way and there needs to be increased maintenance, aesthetics and usability.”

Centennial Park is an open space in a very heavily built-up area.

“At the bottom of Lambert Street, between Havannah and Seymour streets, there are now 55 dwellings, as opposed to 16 originally, while the next block up has 70, compared to 18,” Ms Wood said.

“Obviously people have to have somewhere to live and the area is popular because it is close to town and it is a flat walk, but this increasing density is happening in every block and it can only happen if we maintain open space and parkland.

“There are no more big backyards, and people need space to kick a ball, walk their dog, play cricket and other recreation.”

Ms Wood said she is printing out hard copies of the survey to give to people using the park, and to letterbox local residents.

“Council needs a strategic plan for managing green spaces and there needs to be community consultation on priorities,” she said.

“After all these years, it is time council invested in the park. In 2012, council announced there would be $10,000 spent sprucing up the park and installing a watering system, but nothing happened.”

The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DYR3RTQ. A hard copy of the survey is available from Churches Nursery in Seymour Street.