GREGSON PARK ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND TO BE DELIVERED BY RE-ELECTED NEWCASTLE LABOR COUNCILLORS
Newcastle Labor Councillors have pledged to deliver a larger, more inclusive adventure playground at Gregson Park, Hamilton in the next term of Council, and as the first major project to be delivered under the Gregson Park Masterplan.
Community feedback throughout the extensive masterplanning consultation undertaken with the local community identified upgrading and expanding the playground at Gregson Park as the number one priority of local park users.
A larger inclusive playground in its existing location with nature play, water play and a small yarning circle would be expanded to the north-east of its existing footprint under Labor's commitment.
If re-elected, Newcastle Labor Councillors will also ensure the addition of a mixed use basketball half court and wall-ball court as a part of the upgrade, following multiple requests from local community members to provide these facilities in Gregson Park.
Ward 2 Labor Councillor Carol Duncan, who has strongly advocated for masterplanning and upgrades for Hamilton's historic Gregson Park said the construction of a new and expanded adventure playground is a fantastic win for local families.
"The playground at Gregson Park has served our community well over time, but it's time to breathe new life into this fantastic space for Hamilton locals and visitors, and Labor will deliver this as a priority during the next term of Council," Cr Duncan said.
"Our vision for the expanded playground under the Gregson Park Masterplan is to provide a more inclusive and adventurous playground to cater for kids of all ages, with a new and more modern style adventure play space, including the inclusion of popular water play elements."
"We'll also retain and refurbish the popular barbecue area and provide additional picnic settings and barbecues because of their immense popularity for family and community gatherings at the Gregson Park."
"I'm very pleased that we will be delivering a mix-used basketball and wall-ball half court at Gregson Park too. Following representations from local young people, I attended a community meeting at Gregson Park in 2019 where they requested a basketball half-court closer to their homes in Hamilton."
Labor has also committed to retaining and enhancing the popular club house facilities located at the tennis courts in Gregson Park.
Newcastle Labor Campaign Spokesperson Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Labor was proud to have ensured record investment into City of Newcastle's open spaces.
"Since 2017, Labor Councillors have ensured more than $87 million has been invested into our open spaces including our parks, playgrounds, sports grounds and playing facilities right across the city and our suburbs, and today's announcement continues that commitment to upgrading our public spaces in a financially sustainable manner," the Deputy Lord Mayor said.
"Our commitment to delivering upgrades to Gregson Park complements our record of delivery, and our commitment to deliver upgrades at Waratah Park, and other parks across the City"
"Unfortunately, this commitment isn't shared by all candidates. Over the past 4 years, John Church and the Newcastle Independents have voted against every City of Newcastle budget, denying funding for upgrades like the new Adventure Playground at Gregson Park. Their promises are not worth the paper they are written on."