New playground at Patonga caravan park

A new playground is under development at Patonga Caravan Park, with stage one already completed.

A climbing web has been installed at Patonga, with more equipment to come, including a pirate ship structure incorporating swings, slides and interactive play.

Gosford Council had allocated $50,000 in the capital works budget for the Patonga Caravan and Camping area, focusing on improvements to the caravan park as well as the surrounding reserve and picnic area.

New park furniture and a picnic bench have been purchased and further plans include foreshore stabilisation works at Patonga Creek and improvements to the boat ramp and car parking area.

A plan of management is under development for the whole reserve and will include a business plan for the caravan site.

The local community has yet to be consulted on the developments.

Council's parks and waterways co-ordinator Ms Kylie Yeend advised that council proposed to consult with local community groups in due course.

She said the play structure was purchased in a hurry so council could buy it at half price.

Ms Yeend advised that money allocated to Patonga was directly relating to the Patonga Caravan Park, and would not impact on developments at Umina, Ettalong and Woy Woy play parks.

She said it was part of an overall plan to prevent the caravan park being a drain on council resources.

"We want to attract locals as well as tourists to Patonga," she said.

"The idea is to enable people to develop a sense of appreciation for the areas around their region.

"If we don't set it up properly, the park will cost Council money as opposed to making money.

"There will be no impact from money spent on the Patonga development on any future development at Umina."

The climbing web is a structure never used by council before.

Ms Yeend said that by installing it at Patonga, there would be someone there at the caravan park throughout the week to monitor maintenance and provide security, as well as providing feedback on its viability as play equipment for other areas within the Gosford region.

The coordinator of Peninsula Families Action Group, Ms Sarah Tolmie, expressed the hope that this development meant the start of an overall focus on Peninsula needs, with a concentrated look at the more densely populated suburbs of Umina, Ettalong and Woy Woy.

Jenni Darwin, August 17