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Work on the much-anticipated Fingal Foreshore Park upgrade and new play space will start today (10 August) and is expected to be completed by mid-November.
The park is located on Marine Parade, adjacent to the Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club.
The proposed upgrade has been on hold for an extended period while an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) was undertaken. The assessment improved the understanding, identification and assessment of Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the site and Fingal Head area. The project has now been given the green light to proceed, with caution.
As part of this assessment, Council engaged with the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council throughout the process.
A series of recommendations from the ACHA will need to be adhered to including: cultural inductions for the contractors prior to works commencing, cultural monitoring during excavation works, and compliance with unexpected finds and stop work procedures.
Council’s Manager Parks and Active Communities Murray Smith said it was great to see another local park upgrade underway.
“While the process has been lengthy, we have and will continue to exercise due diligence when upgrading the park. We are pleased to announce the new park is now one step closer to being delivered for the community,” Mr Smith said.
“Council is committed to creating more open, green space for everyone to enjoy. For this project, we partnered with the local community to create a recreational space with improved access for everyone to play, and safer access for pedestrians.
“This investment in open space creates local jobs and will provide social, health and wellbeing benefits for the community for years to come. We know it will be a much-loved park for local families and visitors alike.”
The park will feature new climbing equipment, swings and slides, an accessible carousel, nature play (including water play, cubby and balance log), an accessible picnic table, new seating and drinking fountain, new pathways, additional trees, landscaping and accessible parking.
Delivering on this project is a key action from Council’s Open Space Strategy (2019–2029).
More than 100 local Fingal Head residents and visitors had their say on the design of the park via a community survey and family fun day in the park in 2019. This community input helped shape the vision for the new park.
The concept design aims to provide a space for families to engage with and enjoy the rich natural landscape, while maintaining and enhancing the local environment and celebrating local Aboriginal culture.
Council received a $107,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play Program to upgrade the park, with Council contributing an additional $200,000.
See the final concept plan and community consultation undertaken at yoursaytweed.com.au/fingal-foreshore-park.
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