Council agrees to rename playground

The renaming of the Trafalgar Ave playground in Woy Woy to The Runway has been endorsed by the Central Coast Council.

The name change was proposed by the Umina Community Group and the NSW Geographical Names Board requires Council endorsement of the proposed new name prior to approval, according to a report to the October 26 ordinary Council meeting.

According to the report from the Council's Customer and Community Relationships Department: "The Umina Community Group has submitted an application to the NSW Geographical Names Board to change the name of Council Reserve R2088 Trafalgar Ave Playground in Woy Woy to The Runway.

"This application is in reference to the European history of the site as a World War II emergency landing strip," the report said.

"The Umina Community Group has consulted local residents and local historians in developing the proposed new name for the reserve," it said.

The proposed name change will now be placed on public exhibition for 28 days and then it will be formally submitted to the Geographical Names Board for approval if no significant objections are received.

According to historical information provided by Umina Community Group member Mr Steven Spillard, in 1942, the Australian Army constructed the airstrip in Woy Woy for use by the RAAF.

The airstrip ran roughly adjacent to Trafalgar Ave between McMasters Rd in the north and Oxford St in the south.

"The airfield was part of a coastal network of landing grounds for military aircraft travelling along the eastern seaboard," Mr Spillard said.

"The original purpose of the airfield was to house eight medium bombers used for coastal patrol activities, the field was eventually designated as an Emergency Landing Ground as the threat of invasion diminished.

"Although no aircraft were stationed here full time, there are records of military aircraft landing for repairs and overnight stop-offs.

"After the war, local residents used the airstrip for car and motorbike races, horse riding and Marshall Airways conducted joy flights every weekend in the 1950s.

"In 1950 a Tiger Moth biplane overshot the runway and crashed into the roof of a house in Nelson Ave.

"Despite petitions by locals, the airfield was closed and the land was divided up into housing allotments.

"Trafalgar Ave Playground is part of the old runway surface; and you can still find some of the red gravel used in its construction on site."

Central Coast Council agenda 6.3, 26 Oct 2016