Long-time residents answer survey

More than half the residents of Patonga answering a survey about the village's camping area have lived in the village for more than 20 years.

A quarter have lived there for more than 30 years.

The questionnaire was circulated by Gosford Council in developing a management plan for the camping area.

It was distributed to permanent residents, non-resident owners and visitors.

Of the 210 permanent resident questionnaires distributed through a letterbox drop to all houses in Patonga, only 34 were completed, a response rate of 16.2 per cent.

Sixty per cent of the respondents had lived in Patonga for more than 20 years.

One third had lived there for between 20 and 30 years, 13.3 per cent for 30 to 40 years and 13.4 per cent for more than 40 years

The permanent residents stated that on average they used the reserve areas weekly.

They stated that they used the tennis courts, public amenities, boat ramp and parking areas on a monthly basis.

Picnic areas and the playground were found to be used annually, while the barbecues were used rarely.

The Council staff report stated that the result indicated that the residents "use the facilities less regularly than expected".

The residents stated that their most regular and popular recreational activities were swimming, fishing and walking.

The survey found that projects which were the most important to local residents were Patonga Creek foreshore re-development, upgrade of the tennis court, natural vegetation management and dune stabilisation, landscape improvements and an upgrade of parking areas for residents at boat ramp.

The council distributed 46 questionnairs to non-resident owners with 36 responding, a response rate of 78.3 per cent.

The surveys were delivered via mail to all property owners at Patonga Creek.

It found that more than a quarter visited Patonga at least weekly and more than 95 per cent visited at least monthly: 2.8 per cent said they visit Patonga daily, 25 per cent weekly, 33.3 per cent fortnightly, 36.1 per cent monthly and 2.8 per cent never visit Patonga.

The non-resident owners indicated that on average, they used the tennis courts, public amenities, playground and reserve areas annually.

They stated that they used the boat ramp monthly, the parkings areas fortnightly and both the barbecues and picnic areas rarely.

They stated that their most regular and popular activities undertaken were swimming first, then boating and then fishing.

The most important projects for them were natural vegetation management and dune stabilisation, the upgrade of parking areas for residents at the boat ramp, improved access to boat ramp for residents, and the Patonga Creek foreshore re-development.

The Council distributed 510 questionnaires to regular campers via mail, and local outlets, 75 were completed, a return rate of 4.7 per cent.

Of the 75 respondents, 6.6 per cent visit Patonga fortnightly, 27.6 per cent visit monthly, 64.5 per cent visit annually and 1.3 per cent rarely visit.

They use the tennis courts annually, and the barbecues, playground, boat ramp, picnic areas, parking areas and reserve areas monthly.

They stated that the most regular and popular activities undertaken were camping, then swimming and then fishing.

The most important projects for them were the development of drainage systems, the Patonga Creek foreshore re-development, natural vegetation management and dune stabilisation, landscape improvements, an upgrade to picnic areas, and improved access to camping areas for visitors.

Draft Plan of Management, 2 Jul 2008 Patonga Caravan and Camping Area, Gosford Council