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Henry Lawson Park Concept Plan

Project Snapshot

online community engagement
Henry Lawson a popular waterside park featuring a playground, BBQs and picnic tables.

The City of Canada Bay is committed to providing facilities that enable our community to enjoy our City’s beautiful open spaces. To support this commitment, Council is proposing to upgrade Henry Lawson Park in stages. Proposed plans for the first stage involve installing new pathways along the foreshore. Future stages, subject to community priorities and capital funding, includes installing a unisex self-automated toilet, children's bike track, elevated boardwalk (connecting the existing northern path to the sandstone steps) and constructing a sustainable seawall to improve the natural habitat. Please note, a shade structure over the playground is also scheduled to be installed in early 2019 as part of Council's Shade Structure program.

Community consultation was undertaken from Saturday, 1 December to Friday, 21 December, via:
  • An online survey
  • Quick polls
  • Pinning comments on the concept plan
  • Community listening post at Henry Lawson Park on Sunday, 9 December 3 – 4.30pm
  • All Hallows Catholic Primary School students providing their ideas for celebrating Henry Lawson

Who's Listening

  • Mayor Angelo Tsirekas
    Council is committed to supporting our community via sound investment and initiatives.

Reference Materials

Frequently Asked Questions

Stage One project outcomes include:
  • shared foreshore pedestrian/cycle path to improve the connectivity with the existing Hen and Chicken Bay shared pathway
  • pedestrian path from the new shared foreshore path to the sandstone steps at the north eastern side of the park
  • repair the sandstone steps and rails
 
 
Future stages project outcomes, subject to future funding allocation, include the installation of:
  • one self-automated unisex toilet facility on the southern side of the park
  • extending the stage one foreshore pathway to access the proposed toilet
  • an elevated boardwalk connecting the existing northern path to the sandstone steps
  • a children’s bike track adjacent to the playground
  • a sustainable seawall to improve the natural habitat
The installation of new pathways will enable better foreshore access to Henry Lawson Park for cyclists, walkers and people with wheelchairs. 
Stage One works will cost an estimated $650,000 and are funded by Section 94 Developer Contributions.
Subject to community feedback, Stage One works are scheduled to be undertaken in early 2019 with construction concluding in June 2019.
There is no existing funding allocated to the future stages at this time. Implementation of future stages is subject to future Council commitment and elements may be implemented at different times based on priorities set by the community.
The intent of installing public toilets at Henry Lawson Park is to improve the comfort of existing users. However, there are community members who may avoid utilising this local park due to the lack of public toilet facilities.
 
 
The Continence Foundation of Australia states that 20% of Australians experience bladder or bowel control problems. This may prevent members of our community, including the elderly, parents with small children and people with disabilities or medical conditions from actively socialising and using recreation facilities unless they know public toilets are available.
 
 
During the community consultation in developing the City of Canada Bay Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021, endorsed by Council on 6 June 2017, participants stated accessible toilets were strong enablers in allowing people with disability to participate in the community.
 
 
The City of Canada Bay is committed to providing facilities that enable our community to be active and connected by providing sustainable spaces and places. This initiative is to assist in enabling our community members to comfortably access this waterfront park without barriers.
The advantages to users of self-automated toilets include:
  • a time determined regular self-cleaning mechanism provides a hygienic environment for users
  • a baby change station to meet the needs to playground users
  • access for people with disabilities and reduced mobility
The specification and placement of this facility will be in accordance with ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design’ (CPTED) principles. For example, some of the features Council will specify include:
  • Pre-determined maximum occupancy time with an audio warning to the user to vacate the facility.
  • automated locking and unlocking of the facilities at dusk and dawn to coincide with the times that the park is used by the community
  • an external low-level light for early evening use
  • deterring users from lingering by playing low-level ‘elevator’ music
  • robust design and fabrication to be vandal resistant
  • placement of the toilet is to be adjacent to a pathway
  • Reduced water use through time flow taps
  • Natural ventilation to reduce power consumption
  • Automated self-cleansing reducing manual self-cleansing costs
Yes, in recent years Council has installed similar self-automated unisex toilet facilities at Fred Kelly Place, Five Dock and Formosa Street, Drummoyne. These facilities are well utilised by the community and provide low-maintenance costs to Council.
The community is encouraged to provide feedback on this project and the concept plan during the community consultation period from Saturday, 1 December to Friday, 21 December, via:
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Henry Lawson Park Images

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