Waverley Park Plan of Management and Masterplan

Between 25 October and 22 November 2021, we consulted with the community on the Waverley Park Plan of Management which included the fitness station, playground and proposed indoor cricket training facility. Over 4300 people engaged with the campaign through online workshops, surveys, social media, emails and posters around the park.

The Indoor Cricket Training Facility was the most debated part of the consultation. It was supported by Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club, however, was not broadly supported by the rest of the community. Whereas, the playground and fitness station upgrades were very supported.

The community also highlighted there was a need to improve: lighting, accessibility, parking, seating and the hard-court bookings

Participants suggested ideas they would like to see including skateboarding, tennis, and bike riding opportunities and said they would like larger play equipment for teens.

Read the full consultation report.

To ensure future generations enjoy Waverley’s open spaces, it is important we have a sustainable approach to the management of our parks.

We are drafting a Plan of Management to define the major projects carried out in Waverley Park over the next decade.

To create a Plan for the park we need to understand how the space is used, who is using it, how they get there and where it could improve.

We have also created a list of suggested ideas and potential future projects that will make up the Masterplan for the park.

• Make the playground larger and refurbish the rocket
• New exercise equipment
• New indoor cricket training facility building on top of the Margaret Whitlam Centre's green roof
• New half-court basketball and hit-up-wall at the back of the multipurpose courts
• Improve path network
• Improve entry design including signage
• Improve nature trails through trees around the reservoir
• Improve drainage and levels of bocce court
• Review street parking to create drop-off and pick-up areas on Birrell Street for Saturday sport
• Reduce asphalt footpath and provide planting buffer between Bondi Road and the park
• Provide additional storage for sporting equipment
• New turf cricket practice wickets in the location of the current fitness station
• Improve surface of field three

Provide written feedback. This is your chance to have your say on the future of Waverley Park - fill in the survey today!

Attend an online event to provide more feedback and speak directly with the project team.

There are two community information sessions. Registration is essential.

Wednesday 3 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park Plan of Management: This is for the project team to understand how the space is used, who is using it, how they get there and where it could improve. There will be a focus on the POM in general and the playspace and fitness station.

Thursday 4 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park POM and Indoor cricket net training facility: The project team will give a short overview of the Plan of Management and the cricket nets, then it will be your turn to ask questions and provide feedback.

We have received $1.7million grant from NSW NSW Govt’s Public Spaces Legacy Program (PSLP) to fund upgrades to the playground and fitness station in Waverley Park. The goal is to have construction complete by the end of 2022.

Designing the playspace

Before we start the design of the playspace we have suggested some ideas based on previous community feedback as outlined in the Play Space Strategy 2014-2029 and Inclusive Play Space Study 2020.

When we have a better idea of the community's priorities we can develop a concept design for the next stage of consultation.

What we know:

We know the size will increase to accommodate toddlers to teen, the types of play will expand and access and inclusion will improve for a broad range of users and abilities. These features are displayed in the map below.

What we don't know:

We don't know the community's priority of playspace and want to know what types of experiences we should focus on.

In the survey, we ask you to rank the types of play listed below. All of them will be included in the final design however, whichever has the most community support will be focused on.

Types of play experience	Examples of equipment
Physical play - moving equipment	swing, slide, flying fox, spinner, rocker
Physical play - static equipment	climbing equipment, somersault bars, monkey bars, balancing equipment
Cognitive play	play panels, puzzles to solve, maze, strategy games like capture the flag
Sensory play	music/sound play, fragrance trail, textured (touch) trails, sensory stimulation, confined spaces to “squish” into.
Nature play	sing plants, rocks, sand, shrubs and trees to explore, wooden/natural equipment, water play, loose parts play
Imaginative play	imaginative settings like shop front, themed equipment such as boats or castles, sculpted animals
Solo play	watching others, individual play opportunities, side-by-side play
Social play	see-saw, pulley and sand, “tip”, hang out spaces, group spinner
Free play	open areas to run around in, kick/throw a ball
Quiet play	quiet spaces to sit, watch others, read, study, talk, play sit-down game

Play for all ages

There will be inclusive play elements for a wide range of children, parents and carers of all abilities to comfortably and safely interact.

We are looking for feedback on including adult exercise equipment co-located with children’s play areas. This could involve the following ideas:

Types of play	Examples of equipment
Balance and co-ordination (as opposed to muscle, strength and cardiac exercise),	specialised equipment to encourage agility
Specialised play equipment in two sizes for adults and children	“you and me” swing, roup play items where adults and children can be accommodated together e.g. group spinner, group swing

Let us know your feedback on these items by completing the playspace survey

Attend an online event to provide more feedback and speak directly with the project team.

There are two community information sessions. Registration is essential.

Wednesday 3 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park Plan of Management: This is for the project team to understand how the space is used, who is using it, how they get there and where it could improve. There will be a focus on the POM in general and the playspace and fitness station.

Thursday 4 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park POM and Indoor cricket net training facility: The project team will give a short overview of the Plan of Management and the cricket nets, then it will be your turn to ask questions and provide feedback.

What's the proposal?

Council, in partnership with Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club (ESCC), is investigating constructing an indoor cricket training facility attached to the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre (MWRC).

The addition to the MWRC will have a lightweight roof so that views from the park are maintained over Bondi and out to the ocean. The cricket pitches will have retractable nets surrounding to stop balls from damaging the structure. The design will be environmentally responsive considering acoustic and weather protection, including energy use, natural cross flow ventilation, sound (attenuation, echoing and vibration), summer heat and humidity, rain, wind and winter cold.

Reconfiguring the existing club rooms, the location and provision of amenities within the MWRC, the layout and location of the commercial café, the interface of the building within the Park, and the exterior landscaping will all be considered as part of the project.

We are proposing to build in this location as it is on top of the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre’s indoor multi-purpose courts, attached to an already established facility.

The building will be funded via a joint funding proposal between Council, ESCC and the NSW State Government with potential funding from Federal Government. The following funding contributions are anticipated, exclusive of GST:

Construction is not expected to start until 2023 at the earliest.

What will it be used for?

It has been designed as a cricket training facility to be managed by Waverley Council and used by Easts Cricket Club, community clubs, schools, and coaches. It could also be hired for use of non-programmed activities like Yoga and Pilates.

Have your say

A concept design has been drafted as a guide for community consultation. Council is keen to gauge community feedback on this proposal for further consideration.

Complete the survey.

Attend an online event to provide more feedback and speak directly with the project team.

There are two community information sessions. Registration is essential.

Wednesday 3 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park Plan of Management: This is for the project team to understand how the space is used, who is using it, how they get there and where it could improve. There will be a focus on the POM in general and the playspace and fitness station.

Thursday 4 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park POM and Indoor cricket net training facility: The project team will give a short overview of the Plan of Management and the cricket nets, then it will be your turn to ask questions and provide feedback.

Background - Why are we suggesting an upgrade to the fitness station?

Council has received a $1.7million grant from NSW Govt’s Public Spaces Legacy Program (PSLP) to fund upgrades to the playground and fitness station in Waverley Park.

The existing fitness station is old and due to be replaced. Our goal is to make the new fitness facility accessible with a variety of equipment for everyone. The proposed upgrade will be in-line with the current Plan of Management to investigate relocating fitness equipment to shade and include equipment for all ages.

How do you make a fitness facility accessible?

We would suggest connecting the outdoor fitness facility to a footpath, having it close to public transport and near other amenities within the park. This will make it easy for everyone regardless of age or abilities to access and use the fitness station.

What kind of equipment will be installed?

Intergenerational Fitness

Intergenerational fitness equipment supports a wide range of users regardless of age and abilities. It offers different ways to exercise and play to improve mobility, balance, and dexterity. For this reason, it is well suited for seniors, young children and those working on physical rehabilitation. Some examples of intergenerational equipment include balancing beams, steps, isolated muscle training, stretching etc.

Cardio/ Calisthenics Fitness

This is the traditional type of fitness equipment offered in open spaces. It allows users to perform exercises of varying intensities in repetition to build strength, mobility, and flexibility. Some examples of cardio include bicycles and cross trainers while calisthenics include push-ups, squats, planks and jumping exercises. A new type of equipment recently available called cross training which has been very popular across the world. The equipment is similar to those in cross-fit gyms and provides resistance and weight training in addition to cardio and calisthenic exercises.

What are we suggesting?

Australia has an ageing population. Currently, the average age in Waverley is 36 years old and is predicted to rise over the next two decades. Visitation to Waverley Park will continue to increase in the future and older people, including those in nearby retirement villages, are expected to make up the largest portion.

The outdoor fitness area has reached the end of its life and needs to be upgraded to meet current outdoor fitness standards. The grant we received will facilitate this and part of our agreement was to provide intergenerational fitness to support the health and wellbeing of our senior residents.

The existing fitness station is not accessible to the path network and is exposed with no shade coverage. We are suggesting the site move to a more appropriate location in the Park.

As both intergenerational and cardio/calisthenics fitness are highly desirable within Waverley Park, Council has determined that adequate spacing cannot be provided for both types of fitness in the ideal location proposed.

We are suggesting the intergenerational fitness area be placed alongside the new play space and the cardio/calisthenics fitness be located at the north eastern corner of Waverley Park. This arrangement provides the following benefits:

• Intergenerational fitness is more compatible with play areas as it allows family units to access play and fitness in one consolidated area
• Intergenerational fitness located centrally within the park and close to facilities at the Margret Whitlam Centre is in the best accessible position for older users
• The northeastern corner of Waverley Park is accessible as it is near the bus stop on Bondi Road and is well connected to the existing path network
• The northeastern corner has mature trees that will provide shade over the fitness station

Let us know your feedback. Fill in a survey online

Attend an online event to provide more feedback and speak directly with the project team.

There are two community information sessions. Registration is essential.

Wednesday 3 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park Plan of Management: This is for the project team to understand how the space is used, who is using it, how they get there and where it could improve. There will be a focus on the POM in general and the playspace and fitness station.

Thursday 4 November, 7pm-8pm - Waverley Park POM and Indoor cricket net training facility: The project team will give a short overview of the Plan of Management and the cricket nets, then it will be your turn to ask questions and provide feedback.