Patonga pavilion alterations approved

Alterations and additions to the amenities block on the Eve Williams Memorial Reserve, Patonga, will proceed, following extended debate at Gosford Council.

Council officers had recommended adding a covered pavilion with outdoor seating and converting the current building to a toilet and change block.

Other recommendations included additional small change rooms on each side of the pavilion.

At a previoius meeting, councillors had asked that the area be marked out so the possible relocation of the cricket pitch could be investigated.

After inspecting the site, it was decided that the cricket pitch did not need to be moved, saving $10,000.

Councillors decided that the $10,000 allocated to the relocation of the pitch be added to the $30,000 in Federal Funding that had already been set aside for the amenities block.

The Federal funding came in the form of $20,000 in Federation grants and $10,000 towards Work for the Dole costs.

The work will be undertaken as a Work for the Dole project.

Mr Robert Osborne addressed Council citing his reasons for the proposal, saying the change rooms should not be the main focus.

"The Eve Williams Memorial Oval is a recreation reserve, not just used for sports," he said.

"The Patonga masterplan has provision for recreational facilities.

"We have hundreds of visitors every day including many day-trippers and some consideration has to be given to them as well.

"Cricket is only played 26 days per year.

"We believe the proposal is a good compromise between all users."

Cr Craig Doyle said the Federal funding was intricately linked to the proposal and if the proposal was to be knocked back, then Council would be knocking back $30,000.

Cr Lynne Bockholt said there was an opportunity to "make it a really nice federation building, because at the moment it's a soulless building".

"Let's give it more time, I don't think anyone in the chamber likes the current design."

Cr Daniel Cook agreed with Cr Bockholt.

"We need to make sure we do it right because the current design is abominable," he said.

Cr Debra Wales said the proposal should be supported.

"I don't think it's abominable or horrible and it should be supported.

"I congratulate the people of Patonga for turning it from an ugly toilet block into a lovely pavilion," she said.

Cr Bockholt said resolution would be hard to achieve because of the division in Patonga.

"We always have to look at Patonga through the prism of a divided community," she said.

Mayor Cr Chris Holstein said he thought the proposal looked fine.

"If you draw the process out, you still won't get agreement," he said.

"Patonga could be just another Umina town centre debate," he said, referring to the inability to reach consensus at Umina.

Cr Doyle, in closing debate, said: "This is the third generation plan for the proposal and has been going on for 18 months.

"I'm really concerned that we're going to defer it and tell the community that they still haven't got it right."

At the Council's previous meeting, it was decided to defer a decision on the shape of alterations and additions to allow an inspection.

Dr Rod Clarke, addressing the earlier meeting, said the oval was an important part of the Patonga lifestyle and the community was expecting the amenities block to be used more.

"Our major concern (about the proposed alterations) is the removal or reduction of the amenities block," he said.

"The extension will encroach on to the oval by two metres, requiring the relocation of the cricket pitch.

"We maintain there are still answers and that (if the current proposal goes ahead) we may well be returning to Council to increase funding for the change rooms."

Council officers recommended alterations to the existing amenities block by providing a covered pavilion with outdoor seating and converting the current area as a toilet and change block.

Other recommendations included additional small change rooms on each side of the pavilion.

The existing toilets will be kept.

Council received 35 submissions on the proposal, with 17 in support, including a petition with 1107 signatures in support of the proposal.

There are about 215 households in Patonga.

The objectors also had concerns about the size of the proposed change rooms, saying they were too small.

Council officers said they considered the reduction in size of the change rooms from 47 square metres to 14.2 square metres would not significantly alter the function of the rooms except perhaps for larger sporting groups and at times of special events.

The officers said the increased area for the proposed pavilion would be of greater benefit to the community.

The proposal included the construction of a colorbond roof and external coated brickwork walls.

The pavilion would be open with the roof supported by feature brick columns to provide a covered picnic and seating area.

Council officers said the alterations would improve the appearance of the existing building, with minimal impact on the existing streetscape.

Carl Spears, June 14