Recreation precinct opens officially

The $4.5 million Peninsula Recreation Precinct was officially opened on Saturday, December 11.

Located at Umina oval off Sydney and Melbourne Aves, Umina Beach, the precinct provides a range of recreational facilities.

Federal Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O'Neill said the precinct was one of the largest outdoor recreation developments to be undertaken within the Gosford Local Government Area.

It had received $3.1 million in funding from the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

"It was aimed at helping local governments build and renew important civic infrastructure such as community centres, parks and playgrounds, and sporting facilities.

"These projects will contribute to the health of our community, and we can also see the employment and economic benefits that have come from this investment through creation of new jobs and new opportunities.

"The Peninsula Recreation Precinct Project created 358 paid employment positions including 35 apprenticeship places."

Gosford mayor Cr Laurie Maher said Gosford Council engaged in extensive community consultation, working with individuals and community groups to provide a precinct in response to the needs of the local community.

"Community involvement was instrumental in the development of this project to ensure the precinct reflected the needs and requirements of local residents.

"Community members were involved with all aspects of the precinct development from assistance with fundraising for the community financial component through to developing a Youth Engagement Strategy.

"The Community also provided input into the selection of playground equipment, volunteered for landscaping and bush regeneration works and were also given the opportunity to create tile artwork which is incorporated in the landscape design.

"This precinct is owned by the people of the Central Coast and boasts state of the art equipment and facilities of which our region is worthy," said Cr Maher.

"The playground includes the largest state of the art rope play structure in Australia.

"The Space Net structure is approximately 30 by 30 metres in size and comprises a slide, nests, pendulum swings, hammocks and burma bridges," said Cr Maher.

Other features of the precinct included junior, middle and senior playgrounds with fully accessible play areas, all ages fitness equipment, a flying fox, park furniture, BMX track, climbing wall, maze, pirate ship, outdoor lighting, pathways and cycleways, half-court basketball court, junior and senior skate park, landscaping and bush regeneration, a community building with public amenities, a tennis facility upgrade, an upgrade to the Umina clubhouse, a car park upgrade and other landscaping enhancements.

Media release, 6 Dec 2010 Deborah O'Neill, Member for Roberston Laurie Maher, Gosford mayor