Updates

Background

The McIlwaine Park foreshore upgrade was officially opened in November 2023. The new facilities include tidal pools, foreshore access improvements, seating, and improved barbecue and picnic areas for the community to enjoy. Learn more here.

To support these upgrades, Council is also planning to upgrade the children's playground and amenities block. Council has developed concept plans informed by previous consultation with the community, the Local Area Command (NSW Police), and other key groups/stakeholders.

We asked for feedback on these concept plans in September/October 2023. To view a summary of what we heard during the most recent round of community consultation, view the consultation report.

Final design

Having reviewed and incorporated the community's feedback, we are now presenting our final plan for the amenities block, playground design and other improvements at McIlwaine Park.

Additional improvement items include:

  • 3 existing picnic shelters with table settings to be upgraded
  • 2 picnic shelters with seating and BBQs to be added to suit new park layout
  • Putt putt to be refurbished
  • Path connection developed

Click image to view in full screen

Final design for McIlwaine Park

Amenities Block

Council is planning to construct a new, accessible block in a more appropriate location (closer to the playground and foreshore), improving access for park users and the safety standards of the amenities.

Amenities Block Artist Impression

Amenities Block View 2
Amenities Block View 1

Existing amenities block

Existing amenities block

Playground

Currently the existing playground is not accessible or inclusive for all users. Council plans to upgrade it by re-purposing existing play equipment components and introducing new inclusive play opportunities. The playground upgrade design will align with Council’s “Let’s All Play” strategy and NSW Planning’s “Everyone Can Play” Guidelines.

Selected play equipment

These images are indicative only.

Putt Putt

Having reviewed and incorporated the community's feedback, the existing putt putt will be retained and refurbished.

Existing Putt Putt

Community consultation

Have your say by Sunday, 29 October 2023:

  • At the children’s playground on Sunday 15 October 2023, 3 – 5pm
  • At the survey below
  • Via email: council@canadabay.nsw.gov.au (Subject: McIlwaine Park Amenities and Playground)

For further enquires you can contact Catherine Yang, Landscape Architect, on 9121 0099 and Jason Grenade, Manager Building Asset Services, on 9911 6406 about the amenities building.

The existing playground provides limited accessible and inclusive play experiences, and the equipment & surfaces are due for renewal. Council has inherited a large quantity of existing play equipment that we intend to refurbish and repurpose along with sandstone block work to develop unique and more inclusive play opportunities, while linking the playground aesthetically to the foreshore. . Additional inclusive play equipment will be introduced to provide various play options.

The upgrade will also take advantage of existing infrastructure such as pathways, edgings, and shade sails and the landscape will be enhanced with new garden beds and landscaping. Additional Park furniture including seats, tables, signages/wayfinding and garden bed will be incorporated into the upgrade to be more inclusive

Playground fencing and garden beds will be extended to formally sperate Concord Road from the playground, creating a secure barrier between a major road whilst remaining open to allow for better park views, intergenerational play and open access to the entire park and free play.

To improve accessibility, we will propose new disable parking spots, drop off area, and new pathway linkage between foreshore and playground.

The final design will align with NSW Planning Everyone Can Play Guidelines with more accessible and inclusive play experiences and surfaces included.

During the foreshore upgrades consultation in September 2019, the community feedback included:

  • Requests for upgraded toilets/amenities (38 submissions)
  • Requests to upgrade the playground (17 submissions)
    • The feedback included bigger variation of play opportunities and new equipment

You can review the feedback here.

Council has also worked directly with the Local Area Command and received recommendations which formed part of our design direction for the amenities building.

McIlwaine Park, like many of our foreshore parks, was reclaimed in the 1970s and filled with construction waste. Environmental testing has found that non-friable (bonded) asbestos in the form of fibre cement fragments (fibro) was found to be present within the fill material. The risk of exposure to asbestos during earthworks is considered to be low based on the asbestos contamination considered to be predominantly bonded in nature with limited ability to become airborne and respirable in the soil. Other than fibro pieces, no other major contaminants were discovered during the environmental investigations.

Before any works commence a Remediation Action Plan (RAP) will be prepared by a professional Environmentalist to manage the risks associated with the known asbestos contamination within the park. An Asbestos in Soil Management Plan (AMP) will be prepared for the works in accordance with NSW legislation, industry standards, codes of practice, guidance documents and guidance from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and SafeWork NSW for the management of asbestos in soil.

Once works are complete at Long Term Environmental Management Plan (LTEMP) will be prepared to implement management practices to manage the residual risks relating to the presence of bonded asbestos in soil beneath capping material within the site.