Oval masterplan goes on show

Gosford Council has decided on plans to rebuild the Ettalong Oval grandstand on the other side of the oval.

The draft Ettalong Oval Masterplan, which incorporates this design, will be on public exhibition for 28 days.

The plans for the redevelopment of the oval have been a bone of contention in the Ettalong community over previous months with the residents of Ettalong Beach Village, Progress Association and Ettalong Beach P&C disagreeing over the new location of the grandstand and amenity block.

Currently the toilet blocks are separate to the grandstand but a proposed design incorporates the two.

Residents from Ettalong Beach Village wanted newly designed grandstand moved to the south-eastern corner near the playground and away from their fence line.

In February this year, residents from Ettalong Beach Village inundated Council with calls and a petition complaining about anti-social behaviour and vandalism around the grandstand.

They claim that moving the grandstand will mean children wouldn't have to use the toilets in the isolated area where they currently are, and it will provide passive surveillance reducing anti-social behaviour.

The Ettalong Ratepayers and Citizens Association did not want new toilets and grandstand to be located near the playground claiming it was a safety issue.

"Undesirables, perverts, paedophiles and child abusers would start hanging around," their letter to Council read.

The association said that the Ettalong Public School P&C committee also wanted the amenity block to stay in the same location for student safety and sun protection on the western side.

The association said it was important to get "equipment and canteen food to the amenities block without carrying the items across the oval".

Gosford Council has voted to move the grandstand and amenities over to the playground side of the oval.

A child-proof picket fence will be placed around the current playground to protect the children from running onto the road.

A report by Council staff also stated the new location would not affect visibility for motorists.

Their report also noted that "the construction of amenities buildings in areas where there is good passive surveillance, the incidence of vandalism and anti-social behaviour around the facility is decreased".

It stated that, under the Local Government Act, Council was required to have regard to "any adverse impact on nearby residences" when it comes to sports fields.

Under the approved plan, the old toilet blocks and grandstand will be demolished and there will be a new grandstand-amenities building constructed near the playground.

The playground will have a childproof picket fence constructed, the carpark will be formalised to give more off-street parking with a barrier fence.

The old grandstand area will be regenerated with picnic tables installed, the landscape concept also includes extra tree plantings.

Council agenda SF 020, August 10