Bathurst Regional Council is running an online survey seeking feedback on a number of options put forward by consultants Integrated Design Group for the redevelopment of the park.

They range from a $3.6 million upgrade of the park’s landscape to include an entrance statement, disability access and improved play equipment right up to a massive $62 million residential redevelopment of the site.

A sixth option proposed by council but only briefly addressed in the scoping study would see only minor improvements at the park to “keep it green, keep it open” at a cost of around $550,000.

This is the option favoured by the most vocal park advocates.

Survey respondents can log onto the council website to have their say while the draft options are also on display at the council chambers on Russell Street.

But Friends of Centennial Park (FoSC) spokesperson Lisa Smiles said the group had been contacted by a number of people, particularly elderly and less mobile people, who feared their views would not be taken into consideration.

“These are people who might not have access to a computer or the internet, and some even have trouble getting out of their car to go into the council chambers,” Ms Smiles said.

In response, FoSC volunteers have offered to drop off hard copies of the summaries and questions to house-bound residents who want to have their say.

FoSC has also been successful in having a single-page summary of the council engineer’s report included as one of the documents made available to the public at the council chambers to ensure Option 6 – the cheapest option – is canvassed.

Anyone wanting to take FoSC up on their offer can contact Ms Smiles on 0429 458 410.

The survey closes on Monday, April 23.

Information from Bathurst Regional Council’s report

THE consultants have provided five detailed land use options for Council’s consideration, and briefly mentioned an additional “minor improvements option”.

The following concepts that have been provided are based upon the major desires that were expressed throughout the community consultation stage, these being to keep the park green, keep it open and make it useful.

This scenario places emphasis on upgrading and improving the landscape of Centennial Park rather than the incorporation of community buildings or changing its existing land use.

In this scenario works would include improved entrance statements into the park, disability access improvements, formulation of off street parking, improvements to existing play equipment, additional inclusions such as off leash dog areas and fitness stations and incorporation of irrigated grassed areas.

It is also proposed to provide specific areas for teenagers as well as picnic shelters and associated infrastructure such as seating and BBQ facilities.

The cost of this option would be in the vicinity of $3.6m and it may be possible to stage the works over a number of years in order to spread the cost over a number of financial years.

This scenario incorporates the inclusion of some form of civic infrastructure into Centennial Park, in addition to providing landscape upgrade works.

This option would enable the site to remain primarily an urban park for public recreation, however also incorporate a formal civic purpose that would include the construction of appropriate public building infrastructure.

The civic function concept shown in the Scoping Study report identifies a library or art gallery, however this scenario can be applied for any civic community function use.

It is proposed that the incorporation of any proposed building be carefully integrated into the park to ensure minimal impact to the green and open theme of the park.

This can be achieved by careful design and the incorporation of landscape screening options.

The Scenario 3 concept plan shown in the Scoping Study Future Use Report demonstrates one such method in which this can be achieved.

The building has been cut into the existing slope with landscape treatments incorporated into the roof.

This option has been estimated to cost in the vicinity of $13.9m.

This proposal involves the incorporation of commercial residential interest within the Park.

It is believed that the size of Centennial Park allows for building structures to be constructed without losing the openness and green parkland amenity of the site.

Residential development at this site would provide the capital to undertake an extensive high quality landscape upgrade of the Centennial Parkland, as well as ongoing maintenance funding.

This option has been estimated to cost in the vicinity of $62m.

This scenario explores the concept to design community and civic facilities that draws and engages people to the area and increases the use of the park for not only the local residential community but the wider Bathurst population.

This option Incorporates commercial interests such as cafe and multi-function spaces with civic facilities such as an art gallery etc.

As with all concept scenarios provided, careful design and construction principals would be incorporated to ensure that structures/buildings installed within Centennial Park blend into the surrounding parkland and that the open passive recreational park theme remains the dominant feature of the site.

This option has been estimated to cost in the vicinity of $17.4m.

This scenario provides a concept that incorporates a mix of ideas and suggestions that were raised throughout the community consultation process, together with small scale residential development. Inclusions such as residential development, community gardens, arboretums and spaces for market gatherings and improved casual play spaces etc would provide increased passive security of the Centennial Park site and round the clock engagement of the area.

This option has been estimated to cost in the vicinity of $15.4m.

There is another option that would be available to council and was briefly addressed within the Scoping Study, although not formally illustrated.

This option would deal with providing minor improvements only to the park, which is consistent with the keep it green, keep it open philosophy.

Overwhelming public feedback has identified that the park should not be left in its current state and a “do nothing” approach would not be acceptable.

Therefore within this improvement scenario, low scale works could be undertaken which provides for minor upgrade to some existing infrastructure without any change to overall layout of the park.

Proposed works would include installation of an irrigation system to improve grass cover, an upgrade to the playground, the incorporation of a barbecue and shade shelter/s, seating and additional tree planting to fill minor gaps.

The cost of this option would be minor in comparison to the other more substantial development options listed above and is estimated in the vicinity of $550,000, depending upon the number of shelters installed.